The Sanctuary of Santa Maria Inviolata, facing east, is located in Riva del Garda. It was built in Baroque style between 1603 and 1609, around a sacred image painted around 1600, at the behest of Count Giannangelo Gaudenzio Madruzzo and with the support of Bishop Carlo Gaudenzio Madruzzo. The main facade, opened by an architraved portal with a triangular pediment, is echoed by the two side facades. On the square-sectioned building body, an octagonal tiburium is attached. The bell tower, isolated from the main building, features two bell chambers and is topped by a small dome. Inside, the octagonal hall is marked by composite pilasters, between which round arches open, housing four semicircular chapels, three entrances, and the presbytery. The hall is covered by an octagonal drum supporting a segmented dome. The presbytery, raised on a step, is barrel-vaulted. A lavish stucco decoration by the Lombard Davite Reti in white, gold, and bronze completely envelops the hall, the dome, and the presbytery; among the stuccos are frescoes by Martino Teofilo Polacco and oil paintings by Pietro Ricchi. A church-sanctuary with an attached convent; between 1641 and World War I, another church, dedicated to Saint Anne, also octagonal in shape, existed on the eastern edge of the farm adjacent to the monastery. Description: Fresco by Bartolomeo Mangiavino of Sal depicting the Madonna with the Child and Saints Sebastian and Roch (16th century). In use: between 1500 and 1611. Image: Painting
Collection of ex-votos: Data not available
Manuscript by Isidoro Gagliardo, once kept in the archive of the convent of the Hieronymites, lost after the suppression of 1809. Cf. G.B. Sajanello (general rector of the Hieronymite Order), Historica Monumenta Ordinis Sancti Hyeronimi Congregationis B. Petri de Pisis, III, p. 403, Padua 1762.
1600 (pre-existing elements of the entire property)
The erection of the church is connected to the great popular devotion towards a sacred image painted around 1600, inside a wall niche, depicting the Madonna with Child between Saints Roch and Sebastian, attributed to Bartolomeo Mangiavino of Sal. Niche with fresco by Bartolomeo Mangiavino of Sal depicting the Madonna with the Child and Saints Sebastian and Roch (year 1600), later incorporated into the sanctuary, completed in 1609.
Some miracles that occurred in 1601 in front of the shrine initiated the devotion: a child, Giovanni Brusaferri, who fell from a cart and was nearly dead, laid on the niche of the shrine and was saved; Giacomina, daughter of Martino Bulla, was healed from the consequences of a fall from a balcony; other miracles involved a man and a boy, Pietro Nicoletti from the Noce valleys. Following these events, the sanctuary was built.
In a register of the notary Giorgio Sacchi from Riva (early 17th century), there is a list of donations to the sanctuary. Register of offerings compiled by priest Giovanni Miotti 1602-1603.
Aggregated to the Basilica of St. John Lateran on September 23, 1696 (privilege of Pope Innocent XII through the interest of Archduke Joseph of Austria) and enriched with the privileges and indulgences pertaining to it.
1877-1964 sanctuary attached to the Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; pastoral care entrusted to the parish.
They took possession in 1817; convent suppressed in 1849.
Called by Gian Angelo Madruzzo; convent suppressed by the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1809.
After the extinction of the Madruzzo family (1658), no patronage is detectable.
Viale Roma, 50, 38066 Riva del Garda TN, Italy
