Nostra Signora della Guardia, Baroque sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of the Guard in Alassio, Italy.
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia stands at 586 meters above sea level on Mount Tirasso, featuring baroque architecture with three naves supported by stone pilasters and commanding panoramic views over the Gulf of Alassio and surrounding Ligurian coastline.
Originally established as a primitive chapel in the 12th or 13th century by Benedictine monks and sailors, the sanctuary was built upon the remains of a Roman castle that once guarded the Gulf of Alassio, with major baroque renovations completed in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The sanctuary serves as a pilgrimage destination for devotees from Alassio and neighboring valleys, housing numerous maritime ex-votos donated by faithful sailors seeking protection at sea, and features beautiful frescoes by Genoese artist Virginio Grana painted between 1859 and 1860.
Visitors can access the sanctuary via Strada alla Madonna della Guardia, and the site offers guided tours explaining its architectural details and spiritual significance, with more information available through the official parish website at http://www.parrocchiasantambrogio.com/chiese/guardia.
The sanctuary houses a wooden statue group representing Our Lady of the Guard, believed to commemorate a Marian apparition that occurred in 1490 on Monte Figogna, and contains a fine organ crafted by Beniamino Giribaldi for liturgical celebrations.
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