Santuario della Beata Vergine di Ariadello, Catholic shrine in Soresina, Italy
The Santuario della Beata Vergine di Ariadello is a Catholic shrine outside Soresina featuring four tall Ionic pilasters on its facade, crowned by a triangular pediment and decorated with wrought iron gates. The interior holds religious artworks and votive offerings left by pilgrims over many centuries.
Construction of this sanctuary began in 1664 following reports of healing near a wall bearing an image of the Virgin Mary, sparking local devotion. The building was expanded multiple times over the following centuries to accommodate increasing numbers of pilgrims.
The shrine hosts the Sagra di Ariadello festival in May, when locals gather on the grounds for markets and community celebrations. Devotion to the Virgin Mary remains central to how the place functions in the life of the surrounding region.
The shrine lies about 3 kilometers outside Soresina's center and is accessible by country roads or the Walled Cities Bicycle Path. Visiting works year-round, though May is the best time to experience local community gatherings.
During a typhus outbreak in 1817, the sanctuary served as a makeshift hospital, resulting in the loss of numerous precious votive offerings. This sacrifice for the community remains part of the place's memory today.
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