Basilica of the Madonna di Tirano

This majestic basilica stands at the border between Italy and Switzerland, where the Madonna appeared before Mario Omodei, of Tirano, in 1504.

The sixteenth century sanctuary has a triple nave in the form of a Latin cross and is the most important example of Renaissance architecture in Valtellina. The imposing façade, subdivided by vertical and horizontal elements, is in perfect harmony with the tall Romanesque bell tower and the sixteenth century cupola. The interior is a precious treasure trove of stuccoes, sculptures and works of art, in addition to a grand seventeenth century organ, fantastically carved, which, with its 2,200 pipes, is one of the biggest in Europe.

The chapel of the Apparition, immediately to the left after entering through the splendid marble portal of the façade, has always been the destination of pilgrimages, with the faithful coming from all over Europe, as attested to by the many votive messages.