Santuario della "Via Crucis", Religious sanctuary and museum in Cerveno, Italy
The Santuario della Via Crucis is a sanctuary and museum in Cerveno that houses 198 life-sized wooden and plaster statues arranged in 14 stations along a stepped corridor beside the parish church. The complex displays detailed scenes of Christ's suffering through these carefully crafted sculptural groups.
Construction began on January 1, 1752, when parish priest Andrea Boldini commissioned sculptor Beniamino Simoni to create the Stations of the Cross complex. Simoni worked over several years on this ambitious project, translating the priest's religious vision into wood and plaster.
The sanctuary embodies the Lombard-Piedmontese tradition of sacred mountains, with frescoed niches containing sculptural groups that depict scenes from Christ's passion. This style of religious expression was especially popular in Alpine valleys and continues to draw pilgrims who come to venerate the artworks.
The sanctuary requires advance reservations for visits, and contact information is available to arrange access beforehand. Planning ahead ensures you can enter and experience the full collection during your visit.
Every ten years, local residents perform a live reenactment of the Passion, bringing to life the characters depicted in Simoni's wooden sculptures. This event is a rare example of how ancient religious art continues to be experienced as living tradition in the modern community.
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