Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve (Cascia)

The history of the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve

The building came about after an episode of popular devotion. A man trapped under the snow entrusted himself to the Madonna and was found alive after three days. The church was built with donations from the community starting in 1565, on the spot where a small shrine with the image of the Virgin stood. It lay along an ancient route between the Piano di Santa Scolastica and inland Sabina.

For over four centuries it drew worshippers from all the surrounding valleys. The 1979 earthquake caused its almost complete collapse, and the church has been abandoned ever since. After the 1979 earthquake, a section of a fluted Roman column also came to light in the area.

What to see at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve

Of the original octagonal, Greek-cross building, some walls survive with parts of the frescoes. The frescoes were painted by the Angelucci da Mevale between 1570 and 1584. They depicted scenes such as the Assumption, the Nativity, the Visitation, the Crucifixion, the Transfiguration and the Rosary.

An altarpiece structure in carved and polychrome wood housed a Madonna and Child attributed to the Sparapane school.

Next to the church is an old fountain, restored by the community in the early 20th century.

How to visit the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve

The visit is to a ruin in a precarious state of preservation, made worse by the 2016 earthquakes. The local community has mobilized to make it safe and open to visitors again. Before going, it is best to check whether the area is accessible.

Where the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve is located

The sanctuary is at Castel Santa Maria, a hamlet of Cascia, in a green valley in Umbria. The village has been documented since the Middle Ages as a small castle under the control of Norcia.

Around the Sanctuary of Madonna della Neve

Near the ruins is the old fountain, once believed to be miraculous. After the 1979 earthquake the village was rebuilt with earthquake-resistant structures on the nearby hill. This new settlement was also damaged by the 2016 earthquake. Other places of worship are on the page on sanctuaries and hermitages in the Sibillini.