During this period, the following were constructed: the pilgrim’s house, the votive chapel connected to the church, and the connecting porticoes between the pilgrim’s house and the church.

**Description:** Statue of the Black Madonna, a work by sculptor Raimondo Santifaller of Orti. The statue is approximately 90 cm tall; the heads of the Madonna and Child are made of ebony wood. The black color justifies the popular name “Black Madonna.” The piece replaces the 18th-century statue of the Madonna, which was stolen in 1977.
**Date of use:** 1977
**Image:** Statue

**Description:** Wooden statue of the Madonna of Loreto, an 18th-century work, stolen in 1977 and replaced by a 20th-century replica.
**Date of use:** between 1700 and 1799
**Image:** Statue

**Description:** Two paintings, enclosed in a reliquary, depicting the Madonna with Child and Saint Charles Borromeo, respectively. The paintings almost certainly correspond to those that Garino brought with him to Forno Alpi Graie from the summit of Rocciamelone on August 24, 1629.
**Date of use:** 1630
**Image:** Painting

**Original location of the Sanctuary:** Presumably near the statue of the Madonna and around the reliquary with the two small paintings.

**Notes on the collection:** The sanctuary houses around three hundred ex-votos, some dating back to its early years (two from the 17th century, the others from the following two centuries).
**Types of ex-votos:** Painted tablets, real or represented prostheses, photographs, others.
**Current preservation:** In the church and the votive chapel.
**Reference to publications or printed descriptions:** AA. VV., *On the Paths of Religiosity*, 1985, pp. 109-110.

The founding legend has been published on multiple occasions, particularly in pamphlets dedicated to the sanctuary. Pietro Garino, a resident of Turin but native to Forno, reached the summit of Rocciamelone on the evening of August 4, 1629. Seeing two paintings on the chapel’s facade—one of the Madonna with Child and the other of Saint Charles Borromeo—in poor condition due to humidity, he decided to take them with him to have them restored. He intended to return them the following year. At the time, Piedmont was plagued by wars and plagues, and in 1630, Pietro Garino took refuge in Forno Alpi Graie to escape the plague, bringing the paintings with him. On the nights of September 27, 28, and 29, 1630, he heard himself called multiple times but, upon going outside, saw no one. On September 30, at the site where the sanctuary now stands, the Madonna appeared to him, supported by two women, and there Garino saw, to his astonishment, the two paintings tied to an ash tree. During the apparition, the Madonna urged him to encourage prayers to end the plague. Garino took the paintings and returned home. The next day, he informed the parish priest of what had happened. The apparitions did not recur; that of September 30 was the only one. The skepticism of the priest and the people of Groscavallo was dispelled by the miraculous reappearance of the paintings at the site of the apparition—not on the tree but on a rock at the foot of the ash tree. Notary Caveglia recorded Garino’s testimony, and that same year (1630), a pillar was erected at the site of the apparitions, followed by a small chapel to house the paintings. The paintings were placed in a reliquary (which still exists today).

A painting depicting the miraculous event is known.

**1630, September:** Miraculous events and construction of the first chapel.
**Around 1750:** Demolition of the old chapel and laying of the first stone for the new construction (the Holy Staircase already existed in 1749, later partially rebuilt in 1954).
**1757:** Construction resumed, with the erection of perimeter walls.
**1769–1771:** Under pressure from Archbishop Rovengo of Rorà, parish priest Bruno continued the work based on a new design.
**1852:** Construction of the bell tower.
**1870:** Parish priest Lanza expanded the presbytery and choir.
**August 11, 1872:** The works were inaugurated by Canon Bottino.
**1873:** The facade was rebuilt.
**1930:** Solemn celebration of the third centenary of the apparition.
**1938:** Construction of the pilgrim’s house (engineer Campari).
**August 10, 1948:** The Pilgrim Madonna was brought to the sanctuary.
**1949:** Painter Favaro redecorated the interior.
**1954:** Solemn coronation of the statue.
**1957:** Construction of the votive chapel, connected to the church.
**1960:** Construction of new connecting porticoes between the pilgrim’s house and the church.

Initially, the spiritual care of the sanctuary was entrusted to the parish priest of Groscavallo, but in 1756, with the establishment of the parish of Forno, spiritual care passed to the parish priest of Forno.

10070 Forno Alpi Graie TO, Italy