The Magnificent Sanctuary of Vicoforte

 Discover this fascinating site, dominated by its majestic dome.

The Sanctuary of Vicoforte, also known as the “Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary” or “Basilica Sanctuary Regina Montis Regalis”, is located in the municipality of Vicoforte, in the province of Cuneo. It is a striking sacred building, one of the most important in the Piedmont region, and its horizontally elliptical dome—entirely frescoed—is the largest in the world of its kind.

In 1935, the Sanctuary was elevated to the dignity of a Minor Basilica and belongs to the Diocese of Mondovì. Furthermore, since 1880, it has been recognised as a national monument.

This grand architectural complex has its origins in a medieval sanctuary, which consisted of a small shrine decorated with a 15th-century fresco of the “Madonna and Child”, likely built by a brickmaker at the end of the 15th century to ensure the successful firing of his bricks.

The priest Cesare Trombetta, considered the founder of the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, began building the first small chapel around the votive pillar in 1594.

During that period, a series of extraordinary miracles reportedly occurred, and popular devotion reached its peak, sparking a devotional movement without precedent in the region. This movement grew to such an extent that it attracted numerous communities from across the north-west of Italy. The shrine became a constant destination for pilgrims and caught the attention of Duke Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy who, in 1596, commissioned the construction of a grand sanctuary on the site. The initial architect was Ercole Negro of Sanfront, later succeeded by Ascanio Vittozzi.

Following the deaths of both Vittozzi and Charles Emmanuel I, the works came to a halt for an extended period. In 1682, the Madonna depicted in the shrine was solemnly crowned in thanksgiving for the end of the Salt War. From that moment, construction resumed—without the support of the House of Savoy—thanks to the initiative of architect Francesco Gallo, who, encouraged by architect Filippo Juvarra, diligently undertook the challenge from 1728 onwards.

The works were completed in 1884, revealing the Sanctuary of Vicoforte in all its splendour, showcasing its Mannerist and Baroque architecture. Its majestic elliptical dome, designed by Francesco Gallo, rises to a height of 74 metres. When the supporting scaffolding was finally removed, such was the apprehension among the onlookers that Gallo himself had to carry out the delicate task, as no one believed a structure of such magnitude could stand without additional support.

Inside the church are frescoes by painters Mattia Bortoloni and Felice Biella.

The Sanctuary assumed its present, unique and majestic form in 1884, when the bell towers and three façades were completed.

To facilitate travel for the many pilgrims, the Mondovì–San Michele tramway was inaugurated in 1881, with its central stop located directly in front of the Sanctuary. However, the line was discontinued in 1953.

The shrine bearing the image of the Madonna displayed a bullet hole, which local tradition attributes to a hunting accident involving a boy named Giulio Sargiano. On his deathbed, he confessed to the incident and donated his arquebus to the parish of Vicoforte; it was later entrusted to the Sanctuary.

The sacred image of the Madonna and Child is now placed at the centre of the Sanctuary’s interior. A distinct white mark can still be seen between the Virgin Mary’s left hand and the foot of the Christ Child, a lasting trace on the fresco. Tradition holds that blood began to flow from the painting where it was struck by the bullet.

Visitors to this sacred site experience something unique and unforgettable. One’s gaze is drawn into an extraordinary play of perspective, a vision that evokes a powerful sense of ascension—so vibrant and compelling that it seems to lift the viewer upward, engulfed in a celestial space that carries them towards the infinite.

The Sanctuary of Vicoforte is one of the jewels of the Langhe Monregalesi—a true masterpiece of art, history, and spirituality with an incomparable identity.

Photo: The Sanctuary in all its magnificence (photo by Karolos Trivizas)