Visiting the Sanctuary of Oropa

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Geo: 45.6277, 7.97986

After lunch Milena drove Michael, Ilaria, Emanuele and I to a nearby attraction – Oropa Sanctuary. Giovanni was going to ride his motorcycle there and meet us up there. I wasn't that interested in going there because I been there many years ago and it was a very religious place. Although I was happy to be going somewhere! It was a short drive up into the mountains and I prepared myself by wearing my warmest clothes.

It was quite cool when we got out of the car and I tried not to think about the temperature. The sanctuary is a group of Roman Catholic buildings in a valley up the mountains built on a few levels. This is also a place of pilgrimage and there is accommodation available here for them. The clouds were dark and everywhere. We walked uphill into the first courtyard and caught our breath. There are so many buildings here.

We then came to the Ancient Basilica which has the wooden statue of the Black Madonna. At the moment we could here that there was a church service on, so we didn't go in. We continued walking uphill. We walked through part of a building. Here the walls were covered in photo frames of people that were asking for the Black Madonna to help them. More steps uphill and then we were in front of the Upper Basilica.

This looked quite grand as we were looking uphill at it. This was built between 1885 and 1960 to accommodate the many pilgrims that came here. Inside it is round with a main altar and many side chapels. The dome surprised me as it was plain, no gold or paint on it. The main altar has a painting of the wooden Black Madonna where the statue had planned to be put.

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Photos

01 Main Entrance
Looking up at the main entrance.

02 Sanctuary
In the sanctuary, surrounded by religious buildings.

03 Looking Down
As we walked up the steps I turned around and saw this view.

04 Glimpse
A glimpse of the upper basilica.

05 Basilicas
The ancient basilica to the right and the upper basilica at the top.

06 Sanctuary
Some of the religious buildings in the sanctuary.

07 Sanctuary
More of the religious buildings in the sanctuary.

08 Inside
Inside one of the buildings.

09 Upper Basilica
The front of the Upper Basilica.

10 Looking Up
Looking up in the portico.

11 Doors
The grand, massive doors of the Upper Basilica.

12 Main Altar
The main altar of the Upper Basilica.

13 Chapels
Some of the Upper Basilica's chapels.

14 Chapels
More chapels in the Upper Basilica.

15 Dome
Looking up at the very plain dome.

16 Main Altar
The main alter has a painting of the Black Madonna.

17 Classic Cars
Some of the classic, unique cars that were parked behind the Upper Basilica.

18 Pink Car
One of the classic, unique cars parked behind the Upper Basilica.

19 Convertible
One of the classic, unique cars parked behind the Upper Basilica.

20 Mountains
A view of the surrounding mountains.

21 Sanctuary
A view of the sanctuary from the back of it.