Madonna di Gallivaggio, Religious sanctuary in San Giacomo Filippo, Italy.
The Sanctuary of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary at Gallivaggio, in the frazione of San Giacomo Filippo, has a salient façade with three doors and four windows. Above the central portal are late-17th-century sculptures of the apparition, commissioned by emigrants in Como, and a 1784 sculpture of Esther and Ahasuerus over the left door. A 52-metre bell tower (1728–1731) with five bells stands on the forecourt.
Two girls from Lirone and Vhò reported a Marian apparition on 10 October 1492 at a boulder in the woods. A wooden chapel was built there in 1493, replaced by a church in 1510 and by the present sanctuary, begun in 1598 with Ticinese labour and finished in 1603. It was consecrated in 1615 by Como's bishop Filippo Archinto.
This sanctuary serves as a gathering place for believers throughout the year, particularly during May celebrations honoring Mary. The pilgrimage tradition continues to draw visitors seeking spiritual connection in this mountain setting.
The sanctuary is reachable via State Road 36, with alternative routes available if landslides affect the main access. Visitors should prepare for changeable mountain weather and wear sturdy footwear when exploring the grounds.
The 1660 rockfall that broke from the mountain above the sanctuary was not discarded: its stone was carved into the main entrance portal in 1664. The church survived the 29 May 2018 landslide standing, though debris made it unusable, and recovery work began in 2025.
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