The history and tradition

The history of this sanctuary in the Marche region begins with a small chapel built around 1870 in Campocavallo, at the time merely a crossroads with no houses, today a hamlet of the city of Osimo (AN). The chapel was built by a very religious person to fulfill the wishes of the farmers in the surrounding area, who were forced to walk several kilometers to reach the nearest church. An oleograph depicting Our Lady of Sorrows is placed above the altar, portraying her with the body of her Son in her arms and her gaze turned toward the sky.

On June 16, 1892, the feast of Corpus Christi, a series of extraordinary events begins that will last for several years: the Madonna weeps and her eyes move. Her pupils, depicted in the image looking toward the sky, now fix their gaze on the crowd, and some people see the eyelids open and close and the face change expression. Pilgrimages from Italy and abroad soon begin, along with conversions, healings and various kinds of graces. 
It therefore becomes necessary to build a large sanctuary capable of welcoming the many pilgrims. The construction of the present sanctuary is considered the second miracle of Campocavallo, as it took place exclusively thanks to the offerings of the faithful, in money, materials and labor.
The miraculous image is adorned with jewelry and precious stones: a crown, a diadem and a heart pierced by seven swords. On March 30, 1938, however, the image is stolen and found a short time later without its precious ornaments.
The Madonna is then crowned once again, and for the occasion the parishioners make an offering of wheat to the Virgin: they build a large crown modeled on the precious one, but entirely covered with wheat ears that are intertwined, wrapped, twisted and treated in various other ways. It is August 13, 1939.

The festival today

Today, many years later, this tradition is more alive than ever. Every first Sunday in August, a float featuring a work made from intertwined wheat ears, generally a scale reproduction of a sanctuary or cathedral, parades through the town: this is the Festa del Covo of Campocavallo.

About the Sanctuary

Contacts and addresses
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows
Via Cagiata, 101
60027 Campocavallo di Osimo (AN)
Tel: 071 71 33 003
Email: santuariobvaddolorata@gmail.com

How to get there the Sanctuary