doors Our Lady with the Child ceramic bas-relief of Saint (in the centre) and musi- Maria Giuseppa Rossello 3 , cal . foundress of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. The third chapel e Shrine hosts a masterpiece by Built in the same year as the Domenichino (Domenico Apparition (1536) following a Zampieri; 1581 - 1641), the design by the architect Antonio Presentation of Mary in the Sormano Pace, the works lasted Temple 4 , a classical work until 1540. The interior of the of the Bolognese school. building with three naves, a On the left wall is a bust crypt and a very raised pres- of Saint Giuseppe Marello bytery is in Lombard medieval 3 canonized in 2005. style, perhaps as a sign of ven- The fourth chapel con- eration for the old cathedral of school. Behind the altar is tains a Crucifi xion 5 by G.B. , which in those years was a magnifi cent wooden choir Paggi (1554 - 1627) from destined to be demolished by 1 with two orders of stalls the Genoese school. the Genoese Republic. In fact to carved by P. Grassi in the year The first chapel on a large extent the Shrine mirrors 2 1644 (his are also the cup- 5 the left as you enter the 7 the shape, size and elevation of boards in the sacristy which Shrine is dedicated to the this Cathedral. Apparition of 18th March 1536. date to 1643) and inlaid in The apse above the organ has 6 . The can- artist from , and it is The crypt is reached through a This is where Pope Pius VII, the nineteenth century by the frescoes of musical angels by Eso vas is attributed to Andrea the oldest work present in the beautiful marble porch sculpted at the end of his imprisonment Savona family of Garassino. Peluzzi that were painted in the Semino (1525 - 1595), an Shrine. On the right-hand wall in relief with adoring and musi- in Savona (1809 - 1813) came to early decades of the 20th cen- is the Deposition by A.Botta e square cal angels. The interior is deco- crown the statue of the Virgin; 4 tury. The side chapels contain an 6 on the Apparition in writing Nine small similar chap- hosts the Museum and the rated with polychrome marbles this is where Pope Benedict excellent collection of works from of the time. els, built between 1622 and accommodation. The centre and stuccoes on the ceiling, XVI laid the golden rose; this is the Ligurian, Roman and Emilian The second chapel is dedi- 1658, accompanied pilgrims is dominated by the facade carried out by Alessandro and where pilgrims from all over the schools that were painted between cated to the Crib 7 with a who walked along the road of the Shrine. In the middle Francesco Casella between 1616 world come every day in trustful the end of the 16th and beginning canvas by Bernardo Castello. from Savona to the square of the square is the Baroque and 1618. In the central niche prayer. of the 17th centuries. The third chapel, known as of the Shrine. style fountain by Giacomo is the statue of Our Lady by The high altar dating to There are eight chapels equally of the Visitation 8 , offers us This lovely regular space Ponsonelli (1702 - 1708). Pietro Orsolino (1560). This is 1760 is the work of Francesco divided between the two side a wonderful marble altarpiece is surrounded by the hos- The facade of the Church the most important and fre- Schiaffi no and his school and is naves and dating to the early 17th in relief sent from by pices that were founded at created by Taddeo Carlone of quented place in the Shrine. surmounted by a beautiful wood- century. The fi rst on the right as the brothers from Savona the same time as the shrine the Ticino province between It is in fact the place of the en crucifix from the Ligurian you enter the church contains G.B. and A. Siri as a work by starting from 1537 to meet 1609 and 1611, in Finale the simple fl oor tomb of Blessed Bernini. Recent studies have the needs of the numerous stone, is surmounted by a 1 Antonio Botta, the witness of the demonstrated that work on the poor or sickly pilgrims. For tympanum and a window in Apparition. The painting is by altarpiece was done by Matteo centuries, almost up to recent the style created by Sergio Gerolamo Brusco. Bonarelli from Lucca, a pupil times they carried out their Serlio divided by streaked Next is the chapel of the Nativity of Bernini’s. function of hospitality for marble pilasters and openings. of Mary 2 with the beautiful can- The fourth chapel offers us the needy. It is completed by two statues vas in the unmistakable style of Bernardo Castello once again. At the end of the square, to of Saint and Caravaggio, the work of the Roman He was very active as an artist the right, stands the Palace Saint John Evangelist and Orazio Borgianni (1578 - 1616). in . His canvas here is of the Duke of Tursi that above the three entrance On the right-hand wall a recent dedicated to Our Lady of the THE APPARITION n Saturday 18th March SHRINE BASILICA 1536 Our Lady appeared Oto a peasant of the area, Antonio Botta, as he was going to work in his vineyard. After reassu- ring the shocked witness, the 10 “Lady” dressed in white and glory invited him to go to his confessor that he should exhort Our Lady the people to prayer, penitence and a change of life. “If it were not for the few prayers and good works done by the Brothers, the world would be even worse than it is” Mary says of to Antonio Botta, member of Mercy th the Confraternity of St Bernard. On 17 May 2008 Twenty days later, Saturday 8th His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI came on pilgrimage to the 8 11 April, in a subsequent appari- tion in the same place, Mary Shrine and on that occasion he gave the Mother of Mercy Snow. His too are the Episodes e Museum extended and since the year entrusts Antonio Botta with of the life of Mary in the webs 2009 by rotation exhibits litur- the message that characterizes the Golden Rose, a sign in the ceiling of the Shrine and Inaugurated in 1959 to gical ornaments, materials 10 , the Shrine and its works “Mercy of special distinction offered the Crowning of Mary on the preserve and develop the silverware 11 , ex-voto, paintings and not justice”. by recent Pontiffs to some counter-facade. large historical and artistic and sculptures. Of particular in- ese words of Mary remind Marian Shrines. Hanging in the side naves patrimony that had accumu- terest is the crown donated by us of the Gospel of Jesus”: “Be The Pope’s visit to the Shrine are two ships 9 (sole survivors lated over the centuries, it the Vatican Chapter with which merciful, just as your Father is is remembered by a bronze of about ten) which are ex- was restored and reopened Pius VII solemnly crowned the merciful” (see Lk. 6, 27-38). plaque on the right-hand wall voto left in the Shrine as a tes- to the public in 1988. It was statue of Our Lady on 10th May e history of the Shrine of by the presbytery. timony to Mary’s assistance. once again refurbished and 1815. A large hall exhibits works Savona starts from this message. by the local artist Eso Peluzzi It immediately became the object 9 mostly regarding daily life in of pilgrimages from all over Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy the hospices. and a place of heavenly miracles Piazza Santuario, 6 - 17100 Savona - Italy - Tel +39 019 879025 [email protected] For contacts and information and blessings. e devotion to the about the Museum: Mother of Mercy who appeared Times of Holy Masses in Savona crossed the National Winter time Weekdays and eves of feasts: 9 am - 4.30 pm tel. +39 019 833121 frontiers and has spread over the Sundays and Holydays: 9.30 am - 11 am - 4.30 pm (From Monday to Friday centuries to all continents. Holy : 4 pm from 8 am to 1 pm) Since 2008 the Shrine has Summer time Weekdays and eves of feasts: 9 am - 5.30 pm Fax +39 019 8331233 been proclaimed the National Shrine of the Confraternities Sundays and Holydays: 9.30 am - 11 am - 5.30 pm Holy Rosary: 5 pm [email protected] of Italy. SAVONA Supplemento al periodico “Mater Misericordiae” - Aut. Trib. Savona n. 75 del 21/03/1950 3063813 - Realizzazione e stampa B.N. Marconi - Genova - Tel. 010 6515914