Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown tickets: which one to buy

The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Corona clings to a cliff face on the side of Monte Baldo, above the Adige valley, about forty kilometres north of Verona, near the village of Spiazzi, and entry is free. It is one of the most dramatic sanctuaries in Italy, seemingly suspended between earth and sky. Visitors reach it from Spiazzi by a walk of about twenty minutes down a road and steps, or by a shuttle bus;

the traditional pilgrim path, the Path of Hope, climbs up from Brentino Belluno in the valley, with about 1,500 steps and a walk of about two hours. Tours from Verona and Lake Garda sometimes include the sanctuary. A car is the easiest way to reach Spiazzi. The sanctuary is active, with masses throughout the day, and visitors should dress modestly. Restaurants in Spiazzi serve local food. The shuttle bus from Spiazzi runs regularly on weekends and in summer.

Visiting Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown: what to see

Hermits lived in caves on the cliff from the twelfth century, and a chapel was built here in the fifteenth century to house a statue of the Virgin holding the dead Christ, a Pietà carved in stone, which according to legend was carried here by angels from Rhodes when the island fell to the Ottomans in 1522. The sanctuary was enlarged over the centuries, and the present church, rebuilt in the twentieth century and consecrated in 1978, is built into the rock face, with a facade of white and pink stone and a tall bell tower. Inside, part of the church's wall is the natural rock of the mountain, and the venerated statue stands in a niche above the altar. The church has modern bronze doors and stained glass.

Along the path from Spiazzi, bronze statues represent the Stations of the Cross. The views over the Adige valley and the mountains are spectacular. The church's interior includes a crypt with a chapel dedicated to the Holy Stairs. The bronze doors show scenes from the history of the sanctuary. The walls of the church's nave are decorated with modern mosaics. Pilgrims leave candles and votive offerings before the statue. The bell tower's bells ring across the valley. The terrace in front of the church offers dramatic views of the drop to the Adige. The sanctuary's shop sells religious items and local products. A small chapel near the path marks a spot where hermits once lived.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown opening hours and the best time to go

The sanctuary is open daily from morning until evening. Weekends and holidays bring many pilgrims and visitors, and weekday mornings are quieter. Summer is pleasant in the mountains, and spring and autumn are beautiful, with fewer people. Winter can bring snow and ice on the path. The feast of the Nativity of the Virgin in September brings pilgrims. The Path of Hope is best walked in cool weather. Allow about an hour for the walk from Spiazzi and the sanctuary, or half a day for the pilgrim path, and combine the visit with Lake Garda. Lake Garda's eastern shore, with towns such as Garda and Bardolino, is about forty minutes' drive west.