Temple of Monte Grisa, National shrine in Contovello, Trieste, Italy
The temple of Monte Grisa is a concrete shrine on a hill near Contovello in Trieste. The walls form sharp triangular shapes, and the interior is divided into an upper and a lower chapel.
The archbishop vowed during the war in 1945 to build a shrine to Mary here if Trieste was spared from further attacks. Architects Antonio Guacci and Ugo Rosso designed the building, which was consecrated in 1966.
The floor plan forms an M for Mary, visible in the triangular lines of the building. Pilgrims come here to experience the connection between the patron saint and the city, expressed through the design.
You can reach the site on foot via a path from the obelisk of Opicina or from the start of the Napoleonica near Prosecco. The hilltop location offers open views over the coast and harbor, especially on calm days.
A roof collapse led to a ten-year renovation starting in 2007, funded by the region. The work allowed engineers to improve the stability of the original concrete structure and restore the interior surfaces.
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