Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, Rho, Minor basilica and Marian shrine in Rho, Italy.
The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows is a baroque basilica in Rho, a town in Lombardy, built in the late 16th century. Inside, several chapels line the nave and are decorated with frescoes and marble surfaces made by artists of that period.
The basilica was founded after reports of a weeping Madonna icon in 1583 moved the local faithful and drew the attention of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo. Construction began the following year, with the design entrusted to Pellegrino Tibaldi.
The sanctuary follows the Ambrosian Rite of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan, which shapes how services are conducted here. You can experience liturgical traditions that remain specific to this region and its religious identity.
The sanctuary stands near the center of Rho and can be reached on foot from the main square without difficulty. Once inside, the chapels are open to walk through freely, so you can take your time in each one.
The neoclassical facade was added in 1810, long after the rest of the building was complete, thanks to two wealthy women who sponsored the project after the Napoleonic wars. Stepping inside from the street therefore feels like moving between two different centuries.
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