A sanctuary clinging to a scenic rocky spur with a breathtaking view embracing Lake Maggiore, the city of Locarno and the Maggia River delta: the Sacro Monte della Madonna del Sasso in Orselina is one of the most important historical and religious sites in the Canton of Ticino.
History
According to tradition, the sanctuary was founded following the miraculous apparition of the Virgin to Brother Bartolomeo Piatti of Ivrea, from the convent of San Francesco in Locarno, which took place in 1480, on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption (15 August). This apparition was followed by the construction of the first Church of Santa Maria Assunta in 1485-1487 and a small dwelling for the friars called the “House of the Father”.
The sanctuary
The devotional chapel established following the apparition soon developed into the idea of a Sacro Monte where the holy places could be recreated. The complex, built on a rocky spur, was developed mainly during the 17th century with the construction of the chapels of the Sacro Monte and the transformation of the sanctuary. It includes the Church of the Annunciation, the convent, the Via Crucis, the road of the chapels - of which unfortunately very little remains - and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, known as Madonna del Sasso, which stands at the top of the Sacro Monte, at the end of a large square offering a spectacular view of the city of Locarno, the valley and Lake Maggiore. The complex also contains a niche with a scene of the Last Supper represented by terracotta statues.
The sanctuary is enriched by highly valuable works of art, such as the statue of the Madonna del Sasso in the square (late 15th century) and, inside, Bramantino's “Flight into Egypt” (1520) and Ciseri's “Transport of Christ to the Tomb” (1870). The church also contains many ex-votos from various periods.
Since 1848, the Madonna del Sasso complex has been owned by the State and entrusted to the care of the Capuchin friars.
Discover the sanctuary
Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary
Via Santuario 2
CH 6644 Orselina
Tel.: +41 91 743 62 65
E-mail: madonnadelsasso@cappuccini.ch
How to get there The sanctuary
