The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Miracles

Anyone who wishes to travel Varese Province, while absorbing the spirituality of a path of faith in the Virgin Mary, can start from the town of Saronno, in the south of the Province, and visit the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Miracles, where there is the image of a miraculous Madonna. The Sanctuary has an impressive facade which was designed by Pellegrino Ribaldi, built by Lelio Buzzi and Giacomo Borroni in 1612, and finished by Carlo Buzzi in 1666, on the building that was extended by Vincenzo Seregni. The bell tower was by Paolo della Porta, and the beautiful polygonal dome was by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. Inside the Sanctuary, there are wonderful frescoes by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari. Of the decorations of the Sanctuary, those that stand out most are the life-size, wooden polychromatic statues produced in the 16th century by the Lombard master Andrea da Milano. The Sanctuary is a place of worship to the Virgin Mary, and commemorates a miracle that took place in 1447. It is one of the most important sites for Marian pilgrimage, which starts from Milan, from the Cathedral dedicated to Mary Nascent, and goes the top of Saint Mary's Mount, above Varese, where there is the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna.

The Angels of the Sanctuary
A jubilant crowd of angel musicians decorate the dome of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin, in Saronno. The celestial choir, which was masterfully painted by Gaudenzio Ferrari in 1535, features beautiful angels singing and playing as many as 50 different instruments.

The Sanctuary's Ancient Sundial
Neither the pilgrim nor the occasional visitor, who admires the beauty of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Miracles, most notably the frescoes by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari, can fail to look at the ancient sundial that can be seen on the front of the bell tower. Just above the sundial, there is a mechanical clock, which is also very old.

The Miracles of the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary in Saronno is the result of a series of miracles that, starting in 1460, led devotees to build a number of small churches (which eventually collapsed) as a sign of their gratitude. In 1484, the community of Saronno gave the task of building the Sanctuary to Guiniforte Solari. However, it was only in 1498 that, thanks to the numerous favours received, the number of people that came from all the surrounding towns and villages was such that a new extension in the Renaissance style was built, probably by the architect Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. The first stone was laid on May 8, 1498.

Information: www.comune.saronno.va.it