The Saint Romedio sanctuary is the most interesting example of medieval Christian art in the Trentino region. The famous pilgrimage place is built on a 70-metre high calcareous rock.This architectonic building is surrounded by a wonderful natural landscape and it is composed of several churches and chapels directly on the rock. The whole structure is connected by a steep stairway with 131 steps.
The oldest chapel of the building dates back to the 11th century and over the centuries other three little churches and other two chapels have been built, and also seven Passion’s aedicules.
This suggestive and spiritual location is dedicated to the hermit Romedio from Thaur. When the hermit died, his believers dug his tomb in the rock and this cult is still alive nowadays.
On 15th January we celebrate the Saint Romedio’s day with a mass in the sanctuary and eating the typical dish of the pilgrim. Every year 200.000 pilgrims come to visit the sanctuary and two Franciscan monks take care of it.
The walk in the rocks from Sanzeno to the sanctuary is a must-see. During summer (approx. from the end of July to the middle of September) a shuttle service is offered from the parking al Mulino to the parking at the sanctuary S. Romedio.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.