Temple of Madonna della Guardia (Santuario della Madonna della Guardia) description and photos - Italy: Val d'Aosta (Topic)

Santuario della Madonna della Guardia temple description and photos - Italy: Val d'Aosta. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Santuario della Madonna della Guardia.

Photo and description

The Temple of Madonna della Guardia, due to its architecture and picturesque surrounding landscapes, is considered one of the tourist attractions of the Val d'Aosta region of Italy. The first building of the temple was probably built in the 13th century, although the first mentions of it in historical documents are found only in 1528. In that document, it was said about the accidental discovery of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which, most likely, was hidden here during the barbarian invasions of the Apennine Peninsula. Between 1715 and 1718, the building of the temple was significantly enlarged.

The facade of Madonna della Guardia attracts attention with its elegance and graceful portico supported by four columns. The interior of the church, frescoed in the 19th century by the Avondo brothers, was decorated with a Gothic fan vault, and sacrificial gifts and things brought by vow were located on several small platforms. Undoubtedly, it is worth paying attention to the three wooden altars of the 18th century and the very miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary with the Child of the 14th century.

Inside, on the windowsill of the facade, on the left side, you can see an oval stone, which was used as a "chaplain", and on it the inscription IHS, which can be interpreted as "Jesus Christ the Savior".

In the square in front of the Madonna della Guardia, there is a pretty fountain with a column and a mask dating from 1642. The base of the fountain is carved from a single piece of stone. And in the back, behind the church, is the bell tower and the pilgrim's house with an elegant portico overlooking the plain.

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Topic: Temple of Madonna della Guardia (Santuario della Madonna della Guardia) description and photos - Italy: Val d'Aosta.