Santuario Machaby, Mountain shrine in Arnad, Italy.

The Santuario di Notre-Dame-des-Neiges stands at 696 metres in the Machaby valley above Arnad, reached by the old Pavià du Bioley mule track through chestnut woods. Rebuilt in 1687 around its older presbytery, it gained side aisles and a sacristy in 1689, a portal of 1687, a portico of 1735 and a bell tower of 1723. The presbytery has a frescoed dome by the Artari painters on an octagonal drum.

The sanctuary already existed in 1503, smaller than today. It was rebuilt in 1687, keeping the old presbytery intact; the side aisles and sacristy followed in 1689, the portal dates from 1687, the bell tower from 1723 and the portico from 1735. A wooden statue of the Virgin kept in the central niche is now in the parish church of Arnad.

This sanctuary serves as a pilgrimage destination where visitors light candles and offer prayers to Our Lady of the Snows in the Catholic tradition. People come from the valley below to experience this place of devotion set high in the mountains.

You can reach the shrine by marked mountain paths or by vehicle, with parking available near the complex. Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for mountain weather conditions at this elevation.

On the parvis stand a stone cross and the statues of Saint Jerome and Saint Grat; guides also mention a broken group of black-stone figures that, with the frescoed Rosary mysteries in the exterior niches, make the shrine a sketch of a Sacro Monte.