Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle (Monte Cavallo)

The history of the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle

According to tradition, the Madonna appeared here in 1523 to a deaf-mute little girl. The news spread quickly and, a few months later, the Duke of Camerino came in person to check whether it was credible. After the apparition a chapel was built, which housed a statue of the Virgin.

The sanctuary was later rebuilt in the 1950s on the site of the old church, which had grown too old. The present complex was built between 1958 and 1959.

What to see at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle

The entrance is preceded by a portico supported by four pillars. The doorway has a trapezoidal lintel with the inscription "Ave Maria". On either side are two stepped windows that follow the slope of the roof. Further back, above the sacristy, rises a bell gable with a single opening.

The interior has a single nave, divided by three large partition walls with tapering peaks. On the side walls of the central bay, two paintings depict the miracle of the 1523 apparition. Beyond the second partition, the presbytery is raised on a marble-clad platform, and the altar is still the pre-Vatican II one. Above the altar a niche holds a statue modeled on the old 16th-century image of the Madonna.

How to visit the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle

The church is small, and a visit combines well with a stop outdoors. The surrounding park has a picnic area with tables, benches and barbecues, a dedicated camper van area and a "Percorso verde" (green trail) with fitness equipment. Before setting out, check whether the church is open. Contact details are in the information box on this page.

Where the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle is located

The sanctuary stands in the Valle della Madonna, in the municipality of Monte Cavallo. It is 1.4 km from the village center. The village lies at the mouth of a gorge enclosed by rocky peaks.

Around the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle

A short distance from the village is the Santuario di Macereto, considered one of the highest expressions of Renaissance architecture in the Marche. The Sibillini National Park, in the Sibillini Mountains, is a few kilometers from the village. Among the routes of the "La Porta della Sibilla" cycle route is the La Valle della Madonna loop. In Pantaneto stands the 15th-century church of San Lorenzo Martire. Other places of worship in the area are on the page Churches of the Sibillini.