Nostra Signora di Reggio Sanctuary

Nostra Signora di Reggio Sanctuary is a church building perched on a hilltop above Vernazzo, featuring a stone Romanesque facade decorated with Baroque elements. The interior is arranged with three naves in a Latin cross layout.

This sanctuary was founded before the 11th century on sacred ground and first documented in 1248 as Santa Maria. The name was changed to Reggio by 1318.

The sanctuary holds a 14th-century painting of the Black Madonna with Child Jesus that has been linked to healing events since 1615. Visitors come to venerate this image and seek intercession through their prayers.

The route to the sanctuary is a 2-kilometer paved path that starts from Vernazzo railway station and passes through cultivated terraces and Stations of the Cross along the way. The path has steep sections and requires good walking shoes.

The grounds feature an ancient cypress tree approximately 800 years old that stands 23 meters tall with a diameter of 4 meters. This tree is among the oldest in the wider region.

Location: Vernazza

GPS coordinates: 44.14302,9.68745

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05