Monte Berico, Minor basilica and shrine on Monte Berico, Vicenza, Italy
Monte Berico is a shrine and basilica crowning a hill above Vicenza, blending Gothic and baroque architectural styles. The structure is reached via a monumental stairway with approximately 150 arches that ascends gradually from the city below to the church at the summit.
The original church was built in 1428 following reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a local peasant woman during a devastating plague outbreak. These events established this location as a pilgrimage destination that expanded and transformed over subsequent centuries.
The site takes its name from devotion to the Virgin Mary, rooted in reported encounters that drew pilgrims from the surrounding region. Today, visitors walk the monumental stairway as an act of spiritual practice, connecting earthly Vicenza to this elevated sanctuary.
The basilica is accessible either by walking the full stairway or by driving up the road that leads directly to the hilltop parking area. Comfortable shoes are recommended if you choose the stairs, as the ascent takes time and steady effort.
A natural spring emerged from the rock during construction in 1428 and was seen as a fulfillment of prophecy related to the spiritual visions. Pilgrims have collected water from this source for centuries, believing it holds healing properties.
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