Santuario della Madonna di Monserrato, Catholic shrine in Porto Azzurro, Italy.
The Santuario della Madonna di Monserrato sits on a rocky outcrop between two streams in Porto Azzurro, surrounded by sparse vegetation and cypress trees. The small shrine displays simple baroque architecture that shapes the remote landscape.
The sanctuary was founded in 1606 by Spanish governor Don Jose Ponce de Leon, who commissioned a copy of the Black Madonna. During the Spanish Succession War, military conflict unfolded in the surrounding area, shaping the region's past.
The interior holds a reproduction of the Black Madonna that echoes the original in the Catalan sanctuary of Montserrat. Visitors can feel the connection to this distant European pilgrimage site.
Access involves a short walk from the paved road connecting Porto Azzurro to Rio. The interior opens only on special occasions, so visitors should check availability beforehand.
The sanctuary witnessed fighting during the Spanish Succession War, with imperial soldiers losing their lives in the valley below. This dark chapter is difficult to imagine given the peaceful setting today.
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