Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro (Montefortino)

The history of the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro

A plaque behind the altar recalls the apparition. In May of the year one thousand the Virgin is said to have appeared to Santina, a shepherd girl who had been deaf and mute since birth. Every day the girl brought wildflowers to the image of the Madonna, placed in the hollow of a beech tree, and she received the gift of speech.

The first documented records date from 1073 and concern the church of Santa Maria in Amaro. That year some local feudal lords, probably linked to the Mainardi family, donated property to the friars. In the early 17th century the chapel housing the sacred image was rebuilt. In 1603 work began on the larger church, with the demolition of the original building, which stood almost at the center of the present one.

The 2016 Central Italy earthquake damaged the sanctuary. The church was declared unsafe, part of the plaster fell from the ceiling and the vault had to be propped up. After the renovation work, the church reopened for worship on December 25, 2018.

What to see in the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro

A flight of steps leads up to the sanctuary and to a loggia with a bell tower, both built in the 20th century. Inside, the church has a single nave. On the wall of the main altar are two frescoes by Virgilio Parodi from the early decades of the 20th century. One depicts the Virgin appearing to Santina.

The most important artistic feature is the chapel behind the high altar, where the statue of the Madonna is kept. Here the painter Martino Bonfini, from Patrignone, created a cycle of oil paintings on the wall in the early 17th century. It includes six stories of the Virgin, four prophets (Moses, David, Solomon and Jeremiah) and twelve Sibyls, the pagan prophetesses. The number of Sibyls is unusual and ties the sanctuary to the lore of these mountains.

The oldest chapel, in the apse area, is reached through two doors on either side of the high altar. It holds the votive offerings left by the faithful. Hundreds of photographs hang on the walls, of children entrusted to the Virgin and of people giving thanks for a grace received.

The exact spot of the apparition is marked by a statue, along the road between the sanctuary and the Ambro stream.

How to visit the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro

The sanctuary is reached by car: the paved road ends in a large parking lot in front of the church. On weekends in the warmer months the lot fills up quickly, so it is best to arrive early. Anyone planning lunch at the nearby restaurants should keep this in mind. There are places to stay, restaurants and cafés in the surrounding area.

The contacts for booking guided tours are in the information box on this page. Before setting out, it is best to check the church's opening hours. The sanctuary is a pilgrimage destination, but it also draws people looking for an outing to a quiet place. Crowds are heaviest in summer, when the river and the trees provide some coolness.

Where the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro is located

The sanctuary stands in the Valle dell'Ambro, in the municipality of Montefortino (province of Fermo), at 658 m above sea level and not far from Amandola. It lies in a narrow valley between Monte Priora and Monte Castel Manardo. The Ambro stream, a tributary of the Tenna, flows beside the church and gave it its name.

From Montefortino, just outside the village toward Amandola, is the turnoff for the Ambro and the Gola dell'Infernaccio gorge. After leaving the provincial road, follow the signs for the sanctuary, which lies right where the road ends.

Around the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro

Just past the sanctuary, keeping to the left, a short walk follows the Ambro stream. In a few minutes it leads to the Ambro waterfall, upstream from the church.

For a more demanding hike, you can continue toward the Infernaccetto, a deep rocky gorge where the stream forms waterfalls. The route has little elevation gain but requires experience. There are no trail markers, the path appears only partly on maps and the river has to be forded many times. For this reason it is done in periods when the water is low. Another hike starts from the sanctuary, crosses the bridge and climbs through the woods to over 1,000 m, toward the springs of the Ambro. It is suitable only for those already familiar with routes graded E (hiking level).

Also in the municipality of Montefortino is the Gola dell'Infernaccio, carved by the Tenna river, with the Pisciarelle waterfalls. At the end of the road you continue on foot through the woods to the Hermitage of San Leonardo al Volubrio. For the other places of worship in the area, see the page on the sanctuaries and hermitages of the Sibillini.