Santa Maria della Croce Sanctuary, Minor basilica in Crema, Italy
Santa Maria della Croce Sanctuary is an octagonal structure with three rising galleries, copper domes, and brick walls decorated with geometric patterns and small rose motifs. The design follows a central-plan layout with a main dome divided into eight segments, surrounded by four side aisles that form a Greek cross.
Construction started in 1490 following a reported vision of the Virgin Mary to Caterina degli Uberti, who had suffered a fatal wound from her husband in the Novelletto woods. This event became the reason for establishing the sanctuary as a pilgrimage destination.
The interior layout guides visitors through a carefully planned space where the central dome and radiating side aisles create a sense of focus toward the sacred center. Renaissance artworks in the chapels reflect the devotional intentions of those who commissioned this church.
The sanctuary sits roughly one kilometer from central Crema along the road toward Bergamo, accessible via a tree-lined avenue dating from 1593. The pathway is clearly marked and easy to navigate for visitors exploring the grounds.
The crypt beneath the presbytery marks the precise location of the Virgin's appearance and holds a 17th-century sculpture depicting the miracle. This underground space lets visitors experience the historical foundation of the sanctuary at its very heart.
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