Basilica Nostra Signora di Caravaggio

Sanctuary of Caravaggio, pergolas of chestnut trees

Sanctuary of the Virgin by Caravaggio

Basilca Ns. Signora di Caravaggio

The Sanctuary of Caravaggio is located 40 km east of Milan and 25 km south of Bergamo just off state road SS 11 Padana Superiore.

Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24043 Caravaggio Bergamo (View on the map)

For centuries there exist numerous legends that show the holiness of the place with the miraculous healing properties of the spring water.

The church is surrounded by a park-like complex with 2 km of porticoes of chestnut trees that lead up to the church.

 

Major entrance of the Basilica Caravaggio

Basilica Ns. Signora di Caravaggio

Behind the row of chestnut are the arcades with rooms that are used for collection of pilgrims and preparing for the holy places of the Sanctuary. Until recent years, pilgrims could spend the night here.

At the entrance of Porta Nuova you will find the marble statue of the Virgin, which appears to Giannetta.

 

The Appearance

At dawn of the 26th May 1432 Giannetta De 'Vacchi was searching herbs when her appeared the Holy Virgin. thank to the appearance arose a water source at this point in the middle of the meadow. A dried tree branch immediately began to drive out and bloom.

In the same year a chapel was built over the Sacred Fountain and nearby was built a hospital. The chapel was expanded into a church and later to the present Sanctuary. The source is located under the Sanctuary and is open to visitors.

The Virgin of Santa Maria del Fonte is the destination of many pilgrims as a place of hope and prayer, and the healing of their ailments.

 

Fountain and Obelisk

Sacred Fountain Sacro Fonte under the dome

The holy spring flows below the church to the south square, where there is a bathroom for the ablutions of the faithful.
The obelisk commemorates an accident of 1450. A general of the Venetian army wanted to steal a valuable holy cup and hid them in his luggage. But his pack mule
did not move while departure.

Statues of the Virtues upon the altar

The burro revealed his general, the theft was discovered and the General had to give back the cup.

As compensation the general erected a small chapel, which was replaced in 1752 with an obelisk.

 

Basilica Nostra Signora di Caravaggio

The basilica has an area of 93 x 33 meters and a height of 22 m without dome and 64 m with cupola.

The single nave in the classic style has a plan view of a Latin cross.

 

Cupola and Altar

Marble high altar

The dome of the Basilica was built in 1691-1695 by the template of the architect Giovan Battista Quadrio. The same architect was already involved in the construction of the cathedral of Milan. On the cupola thrones a bronze statue of Alessio Bolzano.

The altar is located directly under the cupola and divides the church into two parts. The main entrance leads for the greater part with four chapels on each side.

The imposing marble high altar by Filippo Juvarra was built on the model of the altar in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The throne is surrounded by four columns and statues, that embody the virtues faith, hope, charity and humility. The marble throne rises to about two angels who carry a crown of stars.

 

Holy cave of the conversation with the Virgin and Gianetta

In the rear part the basilica are the stairs to the sanctuary. The "Sacro Speco" is the memorial for the conversation of the Virgin with Gianetta. The cave of the "Holy Speco" with the image of the phenomenon is located just below the main altar and the Holy subterranean water source.

 

The Organ

The Basilica of the Holy Lady of Caravaggio houses one of Italy's finest organs with a total of four keyboards and 5600 pipes. It consists of three organs, one of which is in the dome.

 

The Sacristy

Sacristy altar painting of Legnanino
and cupboards

The sacristy results from the 16 / 17 Century and is artistically valuable. The big panel at the entrance should have been manufactured by the sculptor Bergognone(Ambrogio da Fossano, 1481 1522).

The ceiling is painted with frescoes of Giuseppe Procaccini "Assumption" in 1698, quit similar to those of the Certosa di Pavia.
The big and ornate wall cabinets were created by Giacomo Carminati. There is an altarpiece on the back wall from Stefano Maria Legnani, called the Legnanino.

Fresco painting Assumption
of the Virgin

 

Sacro Fonte - Holy Spring

 

From the Basilica descend few steps to the Sacro Fonte, which is located directly below the Holy Speco.

Sacro Fonte - Holy Spring of Caravaggio

Right here was the place where Giannetta appeared the Virgin Mary and the water gushed out of the earth.

The 30 m long corridor below the church is decorated with mosaics. At the exit are the water taps of holy water for believers.

The Painter Caravaggio - Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Masterpieces of Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi called Caravaggio, born on 29 September 1571 in Milan, died on 18 July 1610 in Porto Ercole (Tuscany).

The famous painter Caravaggio, got his name from his home town Caravaggio at 40 km distant from Milan.

Caravaggio was an outstanding painter with an eccentric character who often got him into trouble. Caravaggio was estimated by the bourgeoisie because of its special style of painting, his pictures are mostly religious content motifs, as for the 16 Century was typical. With its realistic painting Caravaggio strongly influenced the style of the Dutch and Flemish artists.