Sanctuary of Oropa in Italy, visit and history

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Oropa, located about a dozen kilometers north of the city of Biella (Italy) and nestled among the mountains, is a Marian place of worship dedicated to the Black Madonna.
It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.

The Gothic statue of the Black Madonna, carved from Swiss stone pine wood and dating back to the first half of the 14th century, is housed in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria.
The Madonna has been attributed with a series of miracles and special graces.

The statue is located at the top of the apse, allowing the faithful to admire it up close through a door on the right side.

Inside the church is a glacial erratic known as the “gran deyro,” which presumably served as a pre-Christian Celtic place of worship.
The boulder is visible inside along the north wall.

Three Recognized Miracles

Giovanni Sà, born in Chambéry and orphaned, found himself begging. Attacked by bandits, his tongue was cut and he became mute. On March 9, 1661, he made a pilgrimage to Oropa. During the recitation of his prayers… he regained both his tongue and his speech.

Giacomo Vallet of Champorcher, paralyzed since the age of 9, could not move and only ate liquid foods. At the age of 27, he made a vow to the Madonna of Oropa and immediately was able to rise.

Giovanni Battista Perrone of Châtillon, in 1717, was captured by the Turks while aboard a Venetian ship. Refusing to convert to Islam, his tongue was cut. Moving to Sostegno (Biella), he visited the sanctuary just as the bishop of Alexandria placed the diadem on the statue’s head; at that moment, he felt his tongue grow back.

Plagues

The Madonna of Oropa was publicly invoked to protect the city of Biella in Italy, from the plague on three different occasions.

In 1522, when the city was hit by the contagion, after making a vow to the Madonna, the epidemic ceased.
Subsequently, in 1599, a plague caused numerous deaths, and in July of that year, the population of Biella turned to the Madonna of Oropa again; the epidemic stopped a few months later.
Finally, during the plague of 1630, Biella was spared, unlike many other surrounding cities.

Graces Received

The numerous miracles and favors that devotees attribute to the intercession of the Madonna of Oropa are confirmed in the detailed records kept in the sanctuary.
These records diligently note the reports of the faithful regarding extraordinary events and graces received.

Additionally, the vast collection of thousands of paintings and votive objects collected in the galleries of the Sanctuary serves as further tangible evidence of such manifestations of faith and gratitude towards the Virgin Mary.

The New Church

Throughout the centuries, the sanctuary has undergone a continuous process of expansion.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the construction of the new church began, which was then consecrated in 1960.

The new church, designed to host large events, houses an extraordinary collection of about a hundred nativity scenes from around the world.
It is a truly exceptional collection worth admiring.

Our tips:
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