Santuario della Madonna della Bocciola
Sightseeing attraction | Ameno | Piemonte | Italy
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Bocciola is located in the hamlet of Vacciago in the municipality of Ameno in the province of Novara, Piedmont. The origin of the sanctuary dates back to an event in 1543, when according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a mute shepherd girl named Giulia Manfredi. While she was tending her cattle near a chapel depicting the Madonna and Child, Giulia suddenly saw the Madonna with the Child on a blooming hawthorn bush.
As a result of this event, a strong devotion to Mary developed, leading to the construction of the present sanctuary. The church was built in the neoclassical style and adorned with frescoes by the painter Agostino Comerio from Como in the early 19th century, depicting biblical scenes. Particularly remarkable is the white marble altar from Carrara. In a small chapel to the right of the presbytery, there is a crystal urn containing fragments of the original hawthorn bush on which the Madonna is said to have appeared. On the altar, there is a 16th-century fresco depicting the Madonna and Child, in front of whom Giulia prayed before the apparition.
The sanctuary sits on a panoramic terrace, offering an impressive view of Lake Orta and the surrounding hills. Every year on the first Sunday of September, a religious festival in honor of Madonna della Bocciola takes place, attracting numerous believers and visitors.
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Bocciola is therefore a significant testimony to the religious history of the region and a place of deep spiritual significance for the local community.
