Madonna delle Grazie, Renaissance shrine in Pontassieve, Italy.
The Madonna delle Grazie is a Renaissance shrine on a hill in Pontassieve with sweeping views of the Valdarno and Val di Sieve valleys. The building features a distinctive loggia on the upper level and a separate oratory on the lower floor connected by an internal staircase.
The sanctuary originated from reported visions of Mary witnessed by a shepherdess near ancient hermit caves between 1484 and 1485. The Renaissance structure built later marks this sacred location and incorporates revered artistic elements added over the following centuries.
The sanctuary draws pilgrims seeking the protection of Mary, and the hilltop location makes it a stopping point on local walking routes through the valleys. People come to light candles before the altar and spend quiet moments in the lower oratory, which feels separate from the main worship space above.
Access to the shrine is possible on foot via paths from the valley below on well-maintained local trails. The interior is easy to navigate, though the staircase connecting the two levels is moderately steep without handrails.
The site preserves the original stone where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared according to local tradition, positioned above the altar and venerated by pilgrims as evidence of divine presence. This physical fragment directly connects the space to the event that led to the sanctuary's foundation.
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