What to see in Montenero, history regarding the image of the Madonna, the miracle of the crippled shepherd and the Sanctuary, itinerary including the civic Famedio and the funicular.
Tourist information
Located on a hill overlooking the sea and the port of Livorno, the Sanctuary of Montenero is dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, patroness of Tuscany.
Every year on May 15th, the patron saint's day, the dioceses of Tuscany take turns offering oil that powers a votive lamp that burns continuously in front of the image of the Madonna.
September 8, the day on which the Nativity of Mary is celebrated, is a festival deeply felt by the people of Livorno, who go on pilgrimage to the Shrine.
According to tradition, it was May 15, 1345, the feast of Pentecost, when a crippled shepherd, after finding the miraculous image of the Madonna resting on a heavy stone on the shore of the Ardenza stream, was inspired by divine will to take her to the hill, which at that time it was known as the devil's mount, perhaps because it was covered in thick woods and frequented by brigands.
The shepherd, despite the weight and his difficulty in walking, willingly took the painting of the Madonna to the indicated place and, after thanking the Virgin Mary, healed he ran down the hillside, to communicate to the community of the small village of Livorno, the miracle occurred.
Later the fame of this image spread very quickly for the many graces made by the Blessed Virgin, and the mountain became a mountain of light, as pilgrimages and offers began for the construction of a small oratory intended to preserve the image of the Madonna.
In 1380, work was already needed to enlarge the chapel and rooms intended to house pilgrims.
The first custodians of the Sanctuary were the friars of the Third Order of San Francesco, which were followed, from 1442 to 1668, by the Gesuati, who built the Church and the Convent.
From 1668 to 1783, the custody of the Sanctuary was entrusted to the Theatines, with whom the monastic complex took on its current Baroque appearance.
After a period of abandonment, from 1792 the Benedictine monks of Vallombrosa, still custodians of the Sanctuary, took possession of the Sanctuary.
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What see
In addition to a panoramic road that leads to the Sanctuary and a large parking lot located nearby, there is a funicular railway which departs from Piazza delle Carrozze, in Montenero Basso, and goes all the way to the Sanctuary.
In the square opposite the Church and the Civic Famedio overlook, a structure characterized by a loggia originally built to offer shelter to pilgrims, later intended to house the mortal remains of illustrious Livornese, including Fattori, Guerrazzi, Marradi, Meyer, Castelli, with a commemorative plaque by Amedeo Modigliani and Pietro Mascagni.
Near Piazza delle Carrozze, where tradition traces the finding of the Image of the Madonna of Montenero by the shepherd, there is the Chapel of the Apparition, built in 1956 in place of a previous chapel ruined during the Second World War .
