Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia, Sanctuary on Turchini Hill in Gavi, Italy

The Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia stands on the Colle dei Turchini near Gavi, built in 1861 to a Greek cross plan. Its floor is laid with red Levanto marble, and three altars line the interior: one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one to the Marriage of the Virgin Mary, and the high altar, topped by a niche holding the wooden statue of the Madonna della Guardia.

A drought in 1817 led the people of Gavi to carry the Madonna della Guardia statue in procession; rain fell the next day, and priest Tommaso Bertelli chose Turchini Hill for a sanctuary. Work began on 20 May 1847 but was suspended amid political turmoil; a first Mass was celebrated in 1853 at a hastily built altar. The Jesuit Luigi Persoglio of Genoa revived the project, and the church was built in under four months in 1861 by the people of Gavi and nearby villages.

The interior is dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Mary, with three altars representing different religious devotions. The wooden statue at the main altar serves as the focal point for pilgrims and visitors who come here to offer their prayers.

The sanctuary is located at Via Valrossara 63 in Gavi in the province of Alessandria and welcomes visitors throughout the year. The main festival is celebrated on August 29th and draws many pilgrims to the site.

The wooden statue of the Virgin Mary inside dates to 1746 and was commissioned as a vow for protection during a hostile siege. Giacomo Bertelli ordered it hoping to keep his home safe from fire during a military conflict.