The church from 1483, which fell into ruin at the end of the 16th century, was rebuilt at the beginning of 1683.
The building features simple architecture with a portal topped by a bas-relief depicting the Madonna and Child.
The interior consists of a single nave and five chapels with five altars. The ceiling and walls were frescoed in the last century.
In 1956, a restoration campaign of the building began under the care of the Minor Observants, who had taken custody of the sanctuary. During the works, the construction of the rectory of the convent and other buildings was also undertaken.

Description: Image of the Virgin with Child, also known as the Madonna del Castellaro, a work by an unknown author from the 15th century. The image of the Virgin was crowned in 1929.
In use: between 1400 and 1450
Image: Painting
Description: Trunk of hawthorn preserved in a display case between the second and first chapels on the left, bearing the inscription “Trunk of the thorn bush on which the Madonna appeared.”
In use: in 1690
Epiphany: Devotion to the effigy grew significantly at the end of the 17th century when, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared to a young girl named Antonia Virgili of Rosola, aged 17, an orphan mistreated by her relatives. One day, the girl, known for her religiosity, was near the hill of Verrucchia when she suddenly had a vision of the Virgin among the branches of a hawthorn plant. The news spread in the area, and from that moment, the branch of the plant was brought to the church, becoming an object of devotion itself. The trunk of the thorn bush is preserved in a display case between the second and first chapels on the left and bears the inscription “Trunk of the thorn bush on which the Madonna appeared.”
Type: Object of worship not classifiable as an image or relic

Notes on the collection: dating from the 17th-19th century
Typology of ex-votos: Painted tablets, Goldsmithing objects

On the site, a church already existed in the 12th century, when the village had a castle and was likely the seat of a court. The jurisdiction of the place was entrusted to the feudal family of the Da Verrucchia. In 1291, this church was dependent on the parish of Missano. The decline of the Da Verrucchia and the transfer of the village to the jurisdiction of the municipality of Montequestiolo also led to the decline of the church, which was rebuilt and expanded only in 1483. Often left in ruins, the sanctuary was abandoned on two occasions: at the end of the 17th century and in the 1950s. The decree recognizing its elevation to a sanctuary dates back to 1993.
At the end of the 17th century, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared to a young girl named Antonia Virgili of Rosola, aged 17, an orphan mistreated by her relatives. One day, the girl, known for her religiosity, was near the hill of Verrucchia when she suddenly had a vision of the Virgin among the branches of a hawthorn plant. The news spread in the area, and from that moment, the branch of the plant was brought to the church, becoming an object of devotion itself. The trunk of the thorn bush is preserved in a display case between the second and first chapels on the left and bears the inscription “Trunk of the thorn bush on which the Madonna appeared.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY – The following texts, already included in the bibliographic repertoire linked to sanctuaries of the diocese of Modena, present references and bibliography useful for the ongoing research: BOOK – BALDELLI FRANCA, Gli archivi parrocchiali della provincia di Modena, 1994. (The work examines all the parishes of the diocese of Modena-Nonantola, briefly reconstructing their history and documentary heritage. In particular: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: pp. 112-113) – BOOK – SILINGARDI GIANCARLO, Santuari Mariani Modenesi, Modena 1979 (Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: pp. 149-166) – BOOK – MONTANARI GIANCARLO, Itinerari mariani, Modena 1991, (The author examines some of the main oratories and sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin in the diocese of Modena-Nonantola, providing information on history, art, and devotion: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: I, 152-159) – ARTICLE IN MISCELLANY – PEZZOLI S., Repertorio generale dei santuari in Emilia Romagna, in Arte e santuari in Emilia Romagna, Cinisello Balsamo 1987 (Diocese of Modena: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: p. 205) – BOOK – / – L’Emilia Romagna paese per paese, Florence 1987-1989, vols. VI (Brief description of the content; it is a publication that, proceeding alphabetically, describes the Emilia-Romagna municipalities from a geographical, economic, institutional, historical, and artistic perspective. When discussing the artistic heritage and traditions linked to each village, it also focuses on places of worship. Diocese of Modena: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: V, 358-359) – BOOK – LONGAGNANI, MANICARDI, SCHIFANI CORFINI, Le Case le Pietre le Storie. Itinerari nei comuni della provincia di Modena, Modena 1980 (Brief description of the content: it is a guide, curated by the Province of Modena, that reviews all the places to visit in the individual municipalities. At the beginning, some thematic itineraries are also proposed, one of which is dedicated to sanctuaries. Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: p. 56 and 352) – BOOK – AA.VV I mille santuari Mariani d’Italia illustrati, Rome 1960 (Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia) – BOOK – Provincial Administration of Modena. Institute for Cultural Heritage of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Insediamento storico e beni culturali. Alta valle del Panaro., Modena 1988 (It is a survey, with a brief historical-artistic explanatory sheet numbered by municipality, fraction, and sites, of all the historical settlements of the municipalities of the Panaro Valley: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia) – BOOK – AA.VV. Monasteri e conventi francescani in Emilia Romagna, Bologna 1995 (Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Verucchia: p. 125) -.
In particular, the activity of Father Antonio Pantera is remembered.

41059 Rosola MO, Italy