Santuario della Madonna del Sasso
Good for: Photography, architecture, kids, views
Not good for: people who don't like heights
- Address
- Via del Santuario 2 N of Town Centre
- Phone
- tel, info: 091 743 62 65
- Hours
- church: 08:00-18:45
Lonely Planet review for Santuario della Madonna del Sasso
Overlooking the town, this sanctuary was built after the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared in a vision to a monk, Bartolomeo d'Ivrea, in 1480. There's a small museum, a church and several rather rough, near life-size statue groups (including one of the Last Supper) in niches on the stairway. The best-known painting in the church is La Fuga in Egitto (Flight to Egypt), painted in 1522 by Bramantino.
Contrasting in style are the naive votive paintings by the church entrance, where the Madonna and Child appear as ghostly apparitions in life-and-death situations.
A funicular runs every 15 minutes from the town centre past the sanctuary to Orisella, but the 20-minute walk up is not that demanding (take Via al Sasso off Via Cappuccini) in spite of being a chapel lined path known as the Via Crucis.
Traveller reviews for Santuario della Madonna del Sasso (1)
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Stunning views of Lago Maggiore and Locarno
andy_murdock recommends this,
Every visitor to Locarno should take the time to visit the Santuario della Madonna del Sasso. You can visit on the cheap by walking up the hill past the stations of the cross, but the old blue funicular is the best way to go and you can save the walk for the way down. Even on cloudy days you'll be treated to some of the best views of the lake, with the unforgettable postcard view of the yellow Santuario perched on the cliff.
Good for: Photography, architecture, kids, views
Not good for: people who don't like heights
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