The need for a larger building became pressing by the end of the 18th century, but the construction, though begun, stalled for various reasons and only resumed several decades later, starting in 1834. Work continued intermittently until 1851, when the church was consecrated by Monsignor Moreno, Bishop of Ivrea, and was finally completed in 1861, the year the grand entrance door was installed, funded by the then-parish priest Don Viora. Currently, the liturgical building features a spacious nave topped by an imposing circular dome. Another smaller circular dome crowns the presbytery, while the apse vault is supported by curved trabeations. The façade showcases a neoclassical-style trabeation held up by four columns. At each end of the trabeation’s ridge, two slender neoclassical bell towers rise. The long access avenue, recently restored and beautified, begins in the village, runs parallel to the state road toward Casale, and leads to the square in front of the sanctuary. Here, within two meticulously maintained flowerbeds—also recently restored—are the Stations of the Cross and the mysteries of the Rosary, depicted on sculpted bronze plaques mounted on elegant supports made of green Courtil stone.
Description: The fresco is located on the original pillar, still preserved inside the sanctuary, leaning against the high altar. It consists of a brick masonry structure covered in plaster, with the side facing the faithful displaying an image of the Madonna of Oropa, flanked by Saints Charles Borromeo and Anthony of Padua, kneeling at the Virgin’s feet. This fresco, with its popular style, likely dates back to the second half of the 17th century.
In use since: 1690
Image: Painting
Original location of the Sanctuary: Within the sanctuary
Notes on the collection: Ex-votos dating between 1690 and 1998. An examination of these ex-votos reveals three key elements:
1) The types of graces received
2) The quality of the paintings’ execution
3) The donors.
Regarding the first point, workplace accidents, car crashes, misfortunes, and illnesses dominate, while battlefield near-misses or lightning strikes inside homes are less common. There are also depictions of praying groups and sacred images. More recent ex-votos consist of simple photographs showing wrecked cars, likely due to accidents.
On the second point, some small paintings were done by local artists (mostly anonymous), while others, particularly those involving children, were created by the children themselves. A small number of paintings are of exquisite and refined craftsmanship, showcasing the skilled hand of experienced artists.
Finally, the donors are primarily from Verolengo, though there are also foreign figures, attesting to the sanctuary’s renown beyond the local area.
Types of ex-votos: Painted tablets, Jewelry, Miscellaneous objects, Photographs
Current preservation: The ex-votos are kept in the sanctuary’s apse and sacristy.
Collections of miracles and graces were compiled from the first half of the 18th century by the sanctuary’s first steward, Don Carlo Candelo, and later by the parish priests of Verolengo. These documentary sources are now preserved in the Verolengo parish archive.
The sanctuary originated from an event deemed miraculous, which occurred in 1690 to the priest Don Giovanni Bracco. While passing through Verolengo, he was thrown from his spooked horse and got his foot caught in a stirrup. The horse suddenly stopped in front of a votive pillar bearing an image of the Madonna of Oropa with Saints Charles Borromeo and Anthony of Padova. Unharmed, Don Bracco interpreted this as a miracle and built a chapel around the pillar, initiating local devotion and the primitive sanctuary. The foundation is documented in a manuscript by the priest Don Carlo Candelo, dating back to around 1776.
The sanctuary enjoys indulgences granted by the Bishop of Ivrea as a diocesan sanctuary. In the past, the Holy See granted the following indulgences:
– Pope Innocent XIII, via a brief on March 17, 1723, granted 100 days’ indulgence to those reciting the Litany of Loreto in the sanctuary.
– Pope Benedict XIV, via a brief on May 15, 1741, granted a plenary indulgence for seven years to those who, after confession, visited the sanctuary from the first vespers until sunset on the Sunday following the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
– Pope Clement XIII, via a brief on July 13, 1768, renewed the previous indulgence under the same conditions.
– Pope Pius IX, via a brief on March 15, 1870, granted partial indulgences to pilgrims visiting the sanctuary.
Piazza del Santuario, 10038 Verolengo TO, Italy
