Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona, Ferrara di Monte Baldo, Italy

Nestled atop a steep cliff in the Veneto region of Italy, the Madonna della Corona sanctuary is a hidden gem. Built into a vertical cliff face on Italy’s Mount Baldo in front of Valdadige it looks as though it is nearly suspended in mid-air.

The sanctuary has a long and fascinating history dating back to the 16th century. According to legend, a shepherd boy found a painting of the Virgin Mary in a nearby cave and brought it to the local priest. The painting was then placed in a small chapel built on the site, and the Madonna della Corona became a popular destination for pilgrims. Over the centuries, the sanctuary was expanded and renovated, with the current church and monastery built in the 20th century.

The Madonna della Corona’s unique location on a cliff has made it a challenging site to build and maintain. The church and monastery were designed by the architect Alberto Luzzo, who created a modernist structure that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The sanctuary’s most striking feature is its stunning glass facade, which offers panoramic views of the mountains and valleys below. Inside, visitors can admire the intricate wood carvings, frescoes, and sculptures that adorn the walls and altars.

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Arosha Weerakkody (10 months ago)
This is set in a spur of living stone on Monte Baldo, overlooking the Adige Valley and above Lake Garda. Highly recommend

Paul Heller (2 years ago)
This famous monastery on a cliff about 40 minutes from Verona makes for a nice day trip. There is a little bit of parking at the top, free. From there it's about a 15 minute walk down some stairs and concrete. Be ready for a hike back up. The signs are a little misleading saying it's only 10 minutes. But it free to enter and has great views of the cliffs and valley. Definitely worth the visit.

N T (2 years ago)
Definitely, worth a visit! There are 2 parking lots available. Approx. 15 min walk from parking to the church. A lot of stairs.

Som Montree (2 years ago)
Wonderful church looks like it’s suspended between heaven and earth. It’s a mixed work from faith and believe and engineering. Sure, nowadays, this place is well known and there are a lot of tourists there but it’s worth a visit and very impressive. If you hope to make a good photo, you should try early in the morning, when the sun is shining on the church. We took a way down with the steps and walked back using the road, it’s easier to walk up. ?

Michael (2 years ago)
Mind blowing sanctuary but unfortunately it is nowadays spoiled with mass tourism. Many buses on the parking lot are spilling boomers who enjoy their retirement and ruin your well deserved one week of paid holidays. You should rather be very early in the morning or visit early evening.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona

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