Tirano, Mountain commune in Valtellina, Italy.
Tirano is a town in Valtellina near the Swiss border, positioned along the Adda River as a transportation hub. The settlement clusters around the Sanctuary of Madonna di Tirano and serves as a starting point for train journeys into the Alps.
The Sanctuary's construction started in 1505 after reports of a Virgin Mary apparition during a plague epidemic. The site quickly became a pilgrimage destination that shaped the town's growth for centuries afterward.
The Sanctuary of Madonna di Tirano dominates the main piazza and draws pilgrims who arrive on foot to pray and light candles. The town's religious identity appears in celebrations and processions that structure the local calendar throughout the year.
The train station sits in the center and offers connections in both directions: south into the Italian network and north on the Bernina line. Visitors should know that the Bernina route climbs through mountains at a slower pace than typical rail travel.
The Bernina railway departing northward crosses numerous bridges and tunnels, including the famous circular viaduct. The line climbs rapidly and offers passengers extraordinary views of glaciers and cliff faces along the way.
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