The sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown: a charming pilgrimage destination

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in Italy. Let’s find out why

There are places that seem to be made to arouse devotion. These are contexts in which it is possible to clearly perceive the sign of the presence of God, direct or indirect because when a place is frequented in time by many devotees, when for centuries the prayers and supplications of the faithful resound in it, it is as if it were permeated with Faith. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown is one of these places, and in it the evocative suggestion given by the long history of worship and veneration is combined with the enchantment of the scenery in which one finds oneself. In fact, the Sanctuary is located 774 meters above sea level in a hollow excavated in Monte Baldo, on the border between Caprino Veronese and Ferrara di Monte Baldo, in the province of Verona. It seems to be placed there by the hand of God, enclosed in the thousand-year-old rock of the mountain, which protects it and, at the same time, extends it towards heaven. Below it opens a dizzying cliff, and the view embraces the entire Adige valley.

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Mary Help of Christians in painted wood of Val Gardena

Statue in painted maple wood, handmade by italian artisans.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown has been a destination for pilgrimages of faith for centuries. At one time it could only be reached on foot through a path through the woods. The difference in altitude of 600 meters and the 1,500 steps did not discourage pilgrims, who faced the evocative journey in prayer, according to a tradition that over the centuries has become a real ritual.

Today a paved road makes the Sanctuary more easily accessible by all, offering also an inimitable panorama to those who approach it by car. The particular context makes the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown not only a place of prayer but also of meditation and inner recollection immersed in nature.

Holy places of pilgrimage

There are countless places of pilgrimage in the world. This is because the pilgrimage of Faith has always been of great importance. The pilgrimage is a journey travelled on a dual track: on the one hand a physical journey, which leads to visiting places strongly permeated by the presence of God and by the faith of those who visited them before us, through the centuries. On the other hand, it is an interior journey, along the path of the spirit, an experience of growth and awareness that makes our life as Christians and men more complete. Today it is easier to travel to go on pilgrimage to the places of the Faith, but let us think of the perilous journey that many devotees had to face in the past, to go to the Holy Land or other places of worship many kilometres away from their home. For this reason, too, devotional forms such as the Way of the Cross have developed over time, to give the possibility to those who could not move to retrace particular events of the life of Jesus or the Saints, without physically going to the places where they took place.

Another shrine destination of intense pilgrimages to which we dedicated a previous article is dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo, Monte Sant’Angelo, in the province of Foggia, erected in the place where according to tradition, the Holy Warrior among the Archangels appeared 5 times.

Madonna of the Crown history

The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Corona was founded as a hermitage in the fifteenth century. The first church was built in 1530 to celebrate the appearance of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is a small painted stone effigy that depicts the Madonna holding the dead Christ in her lap. According to the legend during the siege of Rhodes by the Turks in 1522 this effigy, which was located in the city drawn by the enemy, miraculously appeared right here.

In 1625 the church rose to the dignity of Sanctuary, thanks to the interest of the Knights of Malta who financed the construction of a new building. Over time the Sanctuary has undergone various changes, has been enlarged, and enriched with the Gothic facade and the beautiful marble statues, until you reach the current appearance. Now the church is 30 m long and 20 m wide, topped by an 18 m high dome. and a towering bell tower.

A staircase made in imitation of the Holy Staircase of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome evokes the journey taken by Jesus during the terrible moments of the Passion. To climb it, pilgrims must follow a tradition that involves kneeling on each of the twenty-eight steps and holding a moment of recollection and prayer for each of the stages of the Passion.

Sanctuary Madonna della Corona how to get there

The Sanctuary is 1.5 km from the town of Spiazzi. To reach it you can exit at the Affi tollbooth, along the Brenner motorway. As we said, today there is a paved road that allows you to reach it with comfort, but many pilgrims prefer to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and go on foot, along the ancient paths and stairs.

You can choose to start from Spiazzi and follow the path of the Way of the Cross marked by wooden crosses and bronze statues made by Raffaele Bonente, until the reconstruction of the Sepulchre of Jesus, or Brentino Belluno, along the so-called Path of Hope, that allows you to admire a truly amazing landscape.

For those who choose to leave from Spiazzi, there is a convenient shuttle that stops along the way.

Pilgrimage Our Lady of the Crown

In addition to the already mentioned Pietà della Madonna Addolorata, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Corona boasts a rich collection of votive offerings offered by men and women to whom Our Lady has granted grace over the centuries.

There is also a remarkable wooden crib and the Tomb of the hermits, with the bodies of the ancient inhabitants of the hermitage exposed in glass cases.