Basilica Shrine of the Black Madonna, Catholic pilgrimage church in Oropa, Italy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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