Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Sasso: A Haven of Faith in Valcuvia

A journey through the hills of Valcuvia, in the municipality of Caravate, leads the pilgrim to a place of peace and centuries-old devotion: the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Sasso. Its history, rooted in the Middle Ages, and its continuous architectural and spiritual evolution make it a destination of great fascination for those seeking silence, art, and a deep connection with the Catholic tradition.

History and Origins of the Sanctuary

The documented history of the sanctuary begins in the distant year of 1141, when the church is listed among the possessions of the powerful monastery of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro in Pavia. This link with the great monastic spirituality of the Middle Ages marks its beginning. In 1159, jurisdiction passed to the Archbishop of Milan, and then, between the 12th and 13th centuries, it settled under that of the Diocese of Como, which still governs it today.

A crucial moment was 1515, when the inhabitants of Caravate donated land to the Hermits of St. Augustine to build a new church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption. The church, already then called “del Sasso,” was visited in 1592 by the Bishop of Como, Monsignor Ninguarda, during a pastoral visit.

After centuries of alternating events, a new era began in 1904 with the arrival of the Passionist Fathers of St. Paul of the Cross. They built the convent and, between 1907 and 1908, also erected the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, following some disagreements with the local parish priest which led to the temporary transfer of the church of Santa Maria to the parish.

The face of the sanctuary changed radically between 1922 and 1924, when the ancient church was demolished and rebuilt based on a design by architect Barbiano di Belgioioso, preserving only the ancient and precious facade. The stable return of the Passionists, with Don Agostino Porro, occurred in 1924, on the condition that the original dedication be maintained and that the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary remain on the altar.

The solemn consecration took place in 1934-35 by Monsignor Alessandro Macchi, Bishop of Como. From that moment, the sanctuary became a center of continuous worship not only for the inhabitants of the valley but for pilgrims from all over Italy, a role it maintains fervently to this day.

Architecture and Development of the Complex

The sanctuary we admire today is the result of centuries of interventions and devotion. The reconstruction of 1922-24 gave the church its current structure:

• **Historic Facade**: The only preserved element of the previous church, a national monument since 1924-25.

• **Interior**: It was expanded with the opening of three chapels on each side along the nave, the enlargement of the presbytery and choir, and the construction of a new bell tower.

The 1900s were a century of great constructive fervor, enriching the complex with numerous devotional structures:

• **1945**: Creation of a **Way of the Cross** with fourteen chapels, a special ex-voto offered by Angelo Cicogna of Milan for a grace received from St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

• **1965**: Construction of a chapel at the beginning of the path to the convent.

• **1967**: Construction of another chapel on the square in front of the church.

• **From 1968**: Construction of a **Calvary** dedicated to the Sorrowful Mysteries, composed of several chapels.

• **1981-85**: Last major restorations, with the construction of new chapels and the arrangement of the external area.

The Precious Relics and Devotion

The sanctuary safeguards spiritual treasures of inestimable value for the faithful:

• **Remains of St. Paul of the Cross**: Founder of the Passionists, whose urn passed through here in 1968. His relics are a beacon for Passionist spirituality.

• **Relics of Saint Severa Martyr**: Her body, extracted from the Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome in the 1800s, was brought to Caravate and donated by the bishop of the Diocese of Osimo and Cingoli in **1928**.

Popular devotion is tangibly witnessed by the rich collection of ex-votos, dating from 1904-1908 to the present. These signs of gratitude for graces received take various forms:

• Painted or inscribed tablets

• Goldsmith objects

• Photographs

• The very Way of the Cross from 1945, a gift for a “miraculous liberation” from prison

How to Visit and Traditions

The sanctuary is a living place, a destination for individual and group pilgrimages. The approach path, through the trail with chapels, invites contemplation.

Significant historical events have marked the life of the sanctuary:

• The visit of the **Pilgrim Virgin** in 1959.

• The conference of the Female Youth in 1950, with the support of the Diocese of Milan.

• The celebrations for the **Jubilee of 2000-2001**, which granted special indulgences to pilgrims.

Sacred art is present with frescoes such as those of the Way of the Cross created by Innocente Salvini in 1956 and his painting The Last Supper (1936-37), brought here in 1963.

For the modern visitor, the sanctuary offers not only a spiritual experience but also a journey into the history of 20th-century religious art and architecture, all immersed in the tranquil landscape of Valcuvia. It is an invitation to discover a faith lived and witnessed through the centuries, lovingly preserved by the Passionist Fathers.