Santa Maria delle Vertighe

Santa Maria delle Vertighe is a shrine in Monte San Savino featuring a basilica layout divided by columns with Ionic capitals and round arches into three naves. The structure displays Romanesque architecture with arched openings and supporting pillars that organize the interior space.

The original shrine was connected to a Benedictine priory around 1073, and a medieval chapel was relocated from elsewhere to the Vertighe hill around 1100. This relocation and connection with religious communities shaped the early development of the site.

The shrine houses a significant Marian painting from the late 13th century that draws pilgrims seeking devotion at this sacred location. Religious reverence is expressed through the artworks that have been treasured by the faithful across centuries.

The shrine is located at Via delle Vertighe 563 and welcomes visitors daily by arrangement. Entry is free, though it is helpful to inquire ahead if you wish to ensure access during your visit.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI designated the Madonna of Vertighe as patron saint of the Autostrada del Sole, one of Italy's major highways. This unusual link between an ancient pilgrimage site and modern infrastructure is rarely known to visitors.