Sanctuary of Montecastello

SANCTUARY OF MONTECASTELLO

The Sanctuary of Montecastello stands on an outcrop of limestone at 700 meters above sea level, overlooking Lake Garda.

Sanctuary of MontecastelloIt is located in Tignale, a village located almost entirely on a plateau, surrounded by olive trees, a balcony overlooking the lake, but that also has a small offshoot of the lake, called “Pra de la Fam“, where there is also the “limonaia “the same name.

It is one of the last lemon on Lake still in operation and dates back to the seventeenth century. This lemon-is an example of special architectural structures on Lake Garda, especially in the Western Riviera, which were used to protect against the harsh winters many citrus farms existing at the time.

The Sanctuary of Montecastello is one of the most important places of worship not only of Tignale but also around the Lake Garda.

Its privileged location offers the visitor spectacular and unique landscapes ranging from the high peaks of Mount Baldo to Sirmione. Recently restored, it is much frequented by pilgrims as well as by those who love the beauty of its architecture, art and landscape.

Built on the ruins of an old temple, later converted into the Castle, the Sanctuary entrance has two nineteenth-century buildings that are now used as shelters for pilgrims, then there is a porch and here comes the stairway to the church on two ramps, which dates back to 1599.

The church consists of two complexes, the lower one, the Roman Gothic, the oldest, with frescoes dating back to the fifteenth century and a higher one, in Baroque style, later, that, behind the main altar, contains a wooden structure with statues surrounding the so-called “Casa Santa“.

These are the remains of some sort of very old stone temple, probably dating back to the ‘AD 802, in which is preserved a fresco by Giotto school that dates back to the fourteenth century and depicting the Madonna and Jesus blessing the Mother.

The Sanctuary is also called the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella thanks to the miraculous appearance of a “star” that ended in a bloody battle that took place in Tignale in 1200.

During a violent battle between Bresciani and Trentini, a dazzling light coming from the castle, where there was already a small temple dedicated to Mary, the paralyzed Trentini, allowing Bresciani to overwhelm them.

The population of Tignale testified Our Lady‘s presence in the form of bright star and from there was born the name Madonna della Stella.

Since the fifteenth century, the Sanctuary of Montecastello was a landmark for the devotion of the people Benacensi, as reflected in the numerous votive offerings present. In particular, to report what is called the biggest ex-voto of Italy, a large painting of the early 1600s, wanted by the inhabitants of Tignale as thanksgiving for the killing of the terrible bandit, said “Zanzanù,” that between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century sowed terror among the population of Upper Lake

Montecastello 25080 Lombardia IT
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