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  • You are in Lizzano In Belvedere / DISCOVER THE AREA / ART AND CULTURE / abbeys, monasteries, sanctuaries
  • Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Acero

    (abbeys, monasteries, sanctuaries a Lizzano In Belvedere)
    Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Acero

    Contact: IAT Lizzano in Belvedere 0534/51052 - IAT Vidiciatico 0534/53159
    Via Madonna dell'Acero 40049 MADONNA DELL'ACERO BO
    Tel. 0534/53029 - 051/357900
    iat.vidiciatico@comune.lizzano.bo.it , iat.lizzano@comune.lizzano.bo.it  
    Getting here: Nearby the main road that runs from Lizzano to Corno alle Scale.
    Opening days: From April to October every day from 8:00 to 19:00, Holy Mass on Sunday at 11:00; the Virgin is celebrated on August the 5th

    In the past, the sanctuary was named after the Beata Vergine delle Alpi (the blessed Virgin of the Alps) and it has been one of the most popular and interesting churches of the area. Built in 1535, it is located 1,200mt above sea level.
A legend says that two young shepherds, of which one was deaf and dumb from birth, were caught in the middle of a snow storm, despite being Summer; the two youngsters found shelter under a maple tree (hence the name of the sanctuary) when the Madonna appeared and healed the disabled shepherd. Once they got home, the two said that the Madonna should be venerated in that place. Today, on August the 5th, numerous pilgrims still commemorate the event.
The sanctuary is beautiful and in great harmony with the surrounding environment; it has a Latin cross plan and is 26mt by 13mt circa. It was built on a previous stone temple that had been erected to protect the ancient maple tree; this would have been in the spot occupied by the main altar. The oldest part of the building is the one near the bell tower; here the floor is slightly higher. The rest was added during the XVII and the XVIII century.
    In Summer it is possible to see a series of wooden life-size sculptures known as "Brunori", which were donated by Brunetto Brunori, a commander in chief of the Florentine army of Ferruccio Ferrucci, as ex-votos for having miraculously survived the battle of Gavinana (03/08/1530), despite being hit by a lance.
There is a series of niches with images of the Via Crucis on the way to the sanctuary; these were restored in the second half of the last century as ex-votos.


  • Other info:
    • MADONNA DELL'ACERO

  • Information by Redazione dell'Appennino Bolognese
    Last update: 28/01/15     (NewsID: 25013)
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