Basilica Shrine of the Black Madonna
Basilica Shrine of the Black Madonna, Catholic pilgrimage church in Oropa, Italy.
Description
The Basilica Shrine of the Black Madonna is a pilgrimage church in Biella, Italy, part of the larger Oropa religious complex in the Piedmont Alps. The site sits on a high plateau and includes several buildings, among them the Ancient Church that houses the venerated image and the Upper Basilica with its towering dome.
History
A religious retreat took shape here during the early Middle Ages and grew over the centuries into an important pilgrimage destination. The present Upper Basilica was completed in the 19th century, while the smaller Ancient Church forms the original heart of the complex.
Culture
The statue of the Black Madonna wears a golden cloak that changes according to the season and feast days. Pilgrims leave votive offerings in the nearby rooms as they pray before the carved wooden figure.
Practical
Access is possible from the valley via a mountain road that is also served by buses. The site offers guest lodging and meals, while the churches remain open year-round for visitors and worshippers.
Did you know?
The treasury preserves hundreds of crowns and jewels donated by pilgrims over the centuries. Many of these gifts come from European noble families and document the far-reaching devotion to this site.
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Piedmont stretches between the Alps and the plains of the Po, with towns from the past, hills covered in vineyards, and peaks that touch the borders of France and Switzerland. Turin, the main city of the region, has world-famous museums like the Egyptian Museum, squares with arcades, and royal homes...
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