Madonna del Soccorso Sanctuary

A 40 minute walk from our hotel will bring you to the Madonna del Soccorso sanctuary.
The history of this house of God is tied to an event that popular tradition remembers as a miracle. A young deaf-mute shepherdess obtained the gift of speech and hearing after she found a statue of white marble, representing the Madonna with Child, in a cave. The statue was returned many times to the village but every time came miraculously back to the place where it had been found. So it was decided to build a sanctuary on this spot.

According to historical sources the sanctuary was built over an ancient pagan temple dedicated to Ceres. The construction of the Sanctuary took place in different times; the completion of the central body dates back to 1537, decorations and extensions continued until 1730. The major altar dates back to 1740. The floor in lake marble is from 1655. The frescos are by unknown painters. A painting representing Saint Joseph, by the painter F. Grandi (18th century), was given to the sanctuary by Pope John XXIII. This painting had previously been part of an altar in St. Peter's Basilica. The Sanctuary's bell tower was built with blocks of granite and completed in 1719 after twenty years of work. The completion of the latter has the sign of architect G.B. Bianchi. (this is confusing - what was signed by the architect? )The tower bears the signature of architect G.B. Bianchi.

Along the route that brings you to the Sanctuary it is possible to admire the 14 baroque temples which represent the life of Jesus and Our Lady, remembered in the mystery of the rosary. The temples were realized between 1635 and 1710 by stucco decorators of the Intelvese School, especially by the sculptor Agostino di Morbio (1620-1706). The temples contain life size statues made of plaster and terra-cotta as well as frescoes.