Condividi
Francesco
Near Lake Garda, this is undoubtedly one of the most evocative and mystical places in all of northern Italy.
Built on a vertical cliff on Monte Baldo, it originally housed a hermitage. The current church was built in 1530, becoming a sanctuary when the knights of Malta had the church rebuilt in 1625. Its relative inaccessibility has preserved the site, which has remained almost intact until now. The interior of the sanctuary houses the Scala Santa, a reproduction of the staircase found in Rome near the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
A pilgrimage destination for centuries, it can be reached on foot through a path that starts from the small town of Brentino Belluno in the province of Verona. It climbs up about 600 meters into the woods, with over 1,500 steps and two hours of walking. Until a few years ago, this was the only way to get up. We walked for hours in pilgrimage and prayer. With the construction of the road, everything became easier and everyone can now get to this magical place that’s suspended between mountains and sky.
To reach it, take the Affi motorway exit. From here, it’s about twenty kilometers to reach Brentino and park in the town center.
After parking, follow the signs for the sanctuary. After a few minutes is the start of the Path of Hope. It was recently named so because those who walk it, believers or not, do so with the hope of finding the strength and peace they need.
The sanctuary, a precious gem of the Veronese area, is also worth a visit for the valuable artistic works kept inside. White carrara marble sculptures by Ugo Zannoni and bronze castings by Raffaele Bonente, such as his “Scenography” on a rock wall of the apse, are something magical and wonderful. A mention also to the numerous ex-votos: 167 tablets, the oldest of which dates back to 1547 and testifies to the miraculous rescue of a woman who was about to drown in the river.
The sanctuary is open all year round at the following times:
November – March: from 8.00 to 18.00
April – October: from 7.00 to 19.30
How to get to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Corona BY CAR
Departure: Rovereto
Arrival: Santa Maria della Corona
Parking: at the lakefront for a fee during the summer season
Length: 65 km
Journey time: 60 minutes