The legend tells of a huge boulder falling from the slopes of Monte Cavo that was about to crash on the town of Rocca di Papa. A traveller realized the danger, implored the Madonna and the rock stopped a few metres away from him.

To thank the Madonna, the miraculous traveller had a chapel built, which later became a place for pilgrimages. Throughout the centuries, the followers of the Madonna del Tufo increased and near the end of the 16th century, the chapel was joined to the church of Rocca di Papa. In 1892, the Sanctuary was handedover to the Trinitariansand later the new church, rebuilt on the designs of architect Salvatore Spadaio, was inaugurated in 1932. The church features a wooden coffered ceiling and theMadonna sculptured in a block of tuff.