santuario, mariano, diocesano, Cappella Madonna del Cervato

The sanctuary church, known as the Cappella Madonna del Cervato, stands in a remote mountain setting, its origins belonging to that long, layered history of Italian devotional architecture. An ancient little church, built not far from a grotto where the Virgin was venerated under the same title, was enlarged in 1599. A confraternity document from 1730 describes it as “built entirely of chiselled marble with a vaulted ceiling, most ancient”, a phrase that hints at considerable age and care.

In 1839, a few rooms for clergy lodgings and pilgrim hospitality were added. Until 1856, the statue of the Madonna della Neve remained permanently in its mountain chapel, visited by the local population. Only in times of famine, plague, calamity or drought was it brought down to the town. From 1857, the tradition reversed: the sacred image now resides in the mother church at Sanza, and is carried up to the mountain in pilgrimage for the novena in her honour.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.