Santuario Madonna della Corona — Attraction in Ferrara di Monte Baldo

IMPORTANT TIPS IF YOU ARE VISITING IN MARCH. I believe that my impression is very similar to many comments I have read here before. I had a very powerful peaceful feeling and got really emotional. I could write more about my experience but I wanted to share some tips for whoever wants to go during the month of March. We visited on March 11th, 2025 (Tuesday). We drove from Desenzano del Garda and before we left we checked the weather. It was not showing predictions of rain in Spiazzi until after 20pm, by which we would have already been back to our hotel. However, when we started driving up the mountain we noticed it was quite foggy and humid. Once we got to the entrance, the gate was closed and there was no bus service. We had to park our car outside and started walking our way down. You can choose to walk down using the paved road or take shortcuts through staircases.

🚶TIP 1 - Accessibility: be prepared physically speaking for this, especially because it’s cold and the road/steps or places to sit might be wet. If you have any sort of health conditions that especially impacts your mobility, please consider another time of the year to visit this amazing place.

🍽️TIP 2 - Foods and Drinks: I would also recommend bringing at least a bottle of water. There is a cafe near the church but it was closed, so there was no place to buy water or food there. If you have diabetes for example, be sure to bring something to eat.

Eventually, we made it to the church and spent maybe 15 minutes there. As soon as we stepped outside, the weather had gotten worse and it was raining and super foggy.

☔️ TIP 3 - Weather: bring an umbrella and wear appropriate clothing, coat and anti-slippery shoes! Be prepared for rain even if it is not showing on the forecast.

Some extra tips. I checked what time the Church would close and it was showing on Google as 7:30pm. We passed in front of the gift shop around 5:25pm and it was open. But we wanted to see the church first and to our surprise, it was already closed when we climbed down - before 6pm. I really wanted to buy some souvenirs to take home and unfortunately missed this chance.

🕚 TIP 4 - Hours of Operation: if you want to buy something at the gift shop, make sure you ask them what time it would close before going up to the church.

My last tip has to do with the lady’s bathroom.

🚽 TIP 5 - Bathroom: be prepared to NOT use a proper toilet seat, as it is just a hole on the floor. Picture attached.

📿 TIP 6 - ENJOY: The serene and peaceful atmosphere combined with breathtaking scenery and the via sacra on your way to the church, makes this experience one of a lifetime! I felt much more connected to God here rather than in bigger Churches like the Duomo in Milan....

Santuario Madonna della Corona – A Sacred Gem Carved into the Cliffs

Beauty doesn’t always lie in the obvious places. Sometimes, it’s tucked away in the most improbable spots, like Santuario Madonna della Corona—a sanctuary carved into the side of a cliff, defying both gravity and time. Even if you’re not religious, there’s something about this place that pulls you in, a blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty that’s impossible to ignore.

We had grand plans to hike the 2 hour path from Brentino, winding our way through the rugged landscape to reach the sanctuary. But as travelers know, plans shift, and with a 3pm wine tour reservation looming, we had to make a call. Instead, we parked our rental in Spiazzi and opted for the shorter, more leisurely path down to the sanctuary—a choice that didn’t disappoint.

The walk took us about 30 minutes, a descent marked by wooden crosses and hauntingly beautiful bronze statues by Raffaele Bonente, depicting the Way of the Cross. The path itself is a marvel, with views that open up to reveal the sheer cliffs and verdant valleys below. It’s the kind of place where you feel small in the best possible way, dwarfed by the landscape but alive with a sense of awe.

As we neared the sanctuary, a tunnel appeared, and rounding the corner on the other side, there it was—Santuario Madonna della Corona, clinging to the rock face as though it had always been a part of it. A service was underway when we arrived, the sounds of hymns and prayers echoing off the cliffs in a way that felt otherworldly. We didn’t want to interrupt, so we wandered the grounds, stopping for a cappuccino and pastry at the café—a simple but perfect moment in the shadow of this incredible structure.

After the service concluded, we ventured inside. The sanctuary itself is small, almost modest, but beautifully crafted. White marble statues by Ugo Zannoni stand in quiet reverence, and the Holy Stairs—believed to be the steps Jesus walked on the day of the scourging—are a solemn reminder of the faithful who come to honor their beliefs, kneeling on each step in prayer. It’s a humbling sight, regardless of your religious leanings.

Rather than retracing our steps on the long winding path, we took the stairs through the woods, a more rugged but rewarding ascent back to the parking lot. It was the perfect way to cap off our visit—a brief but profound stop on a journey through northern Italy that I won’t soon forget.

Santuario Madonna della Corona isn’t just a tourist attraction. It’s a place that moves you, not with spectacle, but with its quiet majesty. If you’re anywhere near the area, trust me—this is one stop...

The architectural achievement of this place is just breathtaking! How they managed to built a Church, nestled in the rock on the edge of a cliffside at an altitude of 775 meters above sea level back in the 16th century is truly just mind blowing! We parked in the carpark at the little Village of Spiazzi, the walk down is quite a distance and steep, so if you don't think you're up to it, you can take the shuttle bus that comes along every half hour, we decided to purchase returning tickets only, its best to get these at the Information center on the corner in the village, it is run by the hotel opposite called Albergo Trattoria Speranza, where we also had a lovely lunch beforehand, there is a walking track near the information center to start walking down to the Sanctuary, but if you take this path, then you will miss seeing some of the life size bronze cast sculptures called 'The Way of the Cross' depicting the condemnation of Jesus Christ to his resurrection by artist/architect Raffaele Bonente, these are on the side of the road at each station, it is best to walk further on up the road to the Hotel called Stella Alpina, and start from here, alternatively, you can also take the 1614 steps of the 'old path' down, that ends at the entrance of the tunnel to the sanctuary. A heads up on the rules, No Dogs are allowed on the premises, and when entering the Chapel, if female, you must be respectfully attired, no bare shoulders or short shorts, dresses etc, and taking photos or video is prohibited, which was a bit disappointing, I would have loved to have taken pics of the unique rock walls that have been incorporated into the structure of the building, the perfumed marble stone and a replica of the shroud of Christ was interesting, and in the sanctuary at the bottom of the stairs, there are thousands of photographs of people, many that of children, all along the walls, the devotion of faith, asking for miracles, long ago now passed, I was moved and saddened...