Situato a 2.035 metri slm, il Santuario di Sant'Anna a Vinadio è il secondo santuario più alto d'Europa.
Dedicato a Sant'Anna e San Gioacchino, genitori di Maria, il santuario è posto su una balconata che offre una spettacolare vista sui monti delle valli Gesso, Stura e Tinèe.
Importante luogo di pellegrinaggio, sin dal Medioevo era presente una cappella detta "Santa Maria di Brasca" dedicata alla Vergine che, grazie alla presenza di alcuni piccoli edifici attigui, dava assistenza ed ospitalità ai viandanti.
Quando nel corso del '400 si diffuse in Italia il culto di San'Anna venne dedicata alla mamma di Maria.
L'aumento considerevole di devoti che visitavano il sito rese necessario il suo ampliamento e nel 1680 venne ultimata la costruzione della nuova chiesa, edificata su una roccia, più a valle rispetto alla cappella.
Nel corso del 1800 venne realizzato il portico ad anello per permettere le processioni al coperto e, contestualmente, fu costruito l'edificio parallelo alla chiesa per ospitare i pellegrini.
L'interno del Santuario di Sant'Anna si presenta a tre navate con l'insolita cataratteristica che il pavimento il legno è in salita e segue il pendio della roccia sottostante.
Di fronte al presbiterio, chiuso da cancellata, si trova, circondata da baldacchino, la statua ottocentesca di Sant’Anna con Maria e il braccio reliquiario seicentesco in argento che contiene la reliquia della Santa donata nel 1722 dalla Cattedrale di Apt.
L’altare maggiore in marmo datato 1960 è stato sostituito dieci anni dopo da uno in rame sbalzato. Su di esso è collocato un quadro della santa, realizzato nel 1686 da Michele Cerruto, raffigurante Sant’Anna e Maria con Gesù Bambino. Intorno sono posti medaglioni con scene della vita di Sant'Anna.
I due altari laterali sono dedicati a San Gioachino e alla Madonna della Neve.
Lungo le pareti del Santuario di Sant'Anna è possibile ammirare numerosissimi ex-voto che testimonia la forte devozione dei pellegrini nei confronti della Santa a cui si rivolgono per chiedere grazie o per ringraziare per guarizioni o scampati pericoli.
A circa 500 metri a monte della Chiesa, lungo il sentiero che porta al Passo Sant'Anna, è possibile raggiungere la "Roccia dell’Apparizione", il luogo dove la leggenda narra che Sant'Anna apparve alla pastorella Anna Bagnis per indicarle il luogo dove costruire il santuario.
Qui ora sono poste le statue di Sant'Anna con Maria bambina e della pastorella inginocchiata in preghiera rivolta verso di loro.
Il Santuario di Sant'Anna è anche punto di partenza per alcune belle escursioni, tra cui quella del Giro dei Laghi.
St.Anna Sanctuary in Vinadio
Located at 2,035 meters above sea level, the St.Anna Sanctuary in Vinadio is the second highest sanctuary in Europe.
Dedicated to St.Anna and St.Gioacchino, Mary's parents, the church is placed on a balcony that offers a spectacular view over the mountains of the Gesso, Stura and Tinèe valleys.
Important pilgrimage site, since the Middle Ages there was a chapel called "Santa Maria di Brasca" dedicated to the Virgin that, thanks to the presence of some small adjoining buildings, gave assistance and hospitality to travelers.
When during the fifteenth century the cult of St. Anna spread in Italy, it was dedicated to Maria's mother.
The considerable increase of devotees who visited the site made it necessary to enlarge the church and in 1680 was completed the construction of a new building, erected on a rock, further downstream than the old chapel.
During the 1800s was built the ring portico to allow indoor processions and, at the same time, was constructed the building parallel to the church in order to house pilgrims.
The interior of the St.Anna Sanctuary has three naves with the unusual feature that the wood floor is uphill and follows the slope of the rock below.
In front of the presbytery, closed by a gate, there is the nineteenth-century statue of Saint Anna with Mary surrounded by a canopy and the seventeenth-century silver reliquary arm that contains the relic of the Saint donated in 1722 by the Cathedral of Apt.
The marble high altar dated 1960 was replaced ten years later by an embossed copper one. Behind it is placed a painting of the saint, made in 1686 by Michele Cerruto, depicting Saint Anna and Mary with the Child Jesus. Around it are placed medallions with scenes from the life of St. Anna.
The two side altars are dedicated to St. Gioachino and the Madonna of the Snow.
Along the walls of the St.Anna Sanctuary it is possible to see numerous ex-votos that testifies the strong devotion of the pilgrims towards the Saint to whom they turn to ask a grace or to thank for healings or for having escaped dangers.
About 500 meters upstream of the Church, along the path that leads to the Saint Anna Pass, it is possible to reach the "Rock of the Apparition", the place where according to legend St.Anna appeared to the shepherdess Anna Bagnis to indicate her the place where build the sanctuary.
Here now are placed the statues of Saint Anna with the child Mary and the shepherdess kneeling in prayer facing them.
The St.Anna Sanctuary is also the starting point for some beautiful excursions, including the Tour of the Lakes.
Located at 2,035 meters above sea level, the St.Anna Sanctuary in Vinadio is the second highest sanctuary in Europe.
Dedicated to St.Anna and St.Gioacchino, Mary's parents, the church is placed on a balcony that offers a spectacular view over the mountains of the Gesso, Stura and Tinèe valleys.
Important pilgrimage site, since the Middle Ages there was a chapel called "Santa Maria di Brasca" dedicated to the Virgin that, thanks to the presence of some small adjoining buildings, gave assistance and hospitality to travelers.
When during the fifteenth century the cult of St. Anna spread in Italy, it was dedicated to Maria's mother.
The considerable increase of devotees who visited the site made it necessary to enlarge the church and in 1680 was completed the construction of a new building, erected on a rock, further downstream than the old chapel.
During the 1800s was built the ring portico to allow indoor processions and, at the same time, was constructed the building parallel to the church in order to house pilgrims.
The interior of the St.Anna Sanctuary has three naves with the unusual feature that the wood floor is uphill and follows the slope of the rock below.
In front of the presbytery, closed by a gate, there is the nineteenth-century statue of Saint Anna with Mary surrounded by a canopy and the seventeenth-century silver reliquary arm that contains the relic of the Saint donated in 1722 by the Cathedral of Apt.
The marble high altar dated 1960 was replaced ten years later by an embossed copper one. Behind it is placed a painting of the saint, made in 1686 by Michele Cerruto, depicting Saint Anna and Mary with the Child Jesus. Around it are placed medallions with scenes from the life of St. Anna.
The two side altars are dedicated to St. Gioachino and the Madonna of the Snow.
Along the walls of the St.Anna Sanctuary it is possible to see numerous ex-votos that testifies the strong devotion of the pilgrims towards the Saint to whom they turn to ask a grace or to thank for healings or for having escaped dangers.
About 500 meters upstream of the Church, along the path that leads to the Saint Anna Pass, it is possible to reach the "Rock of the Apparition", the place where according to legend St.Anna appeared to the shepherdess Anna Bagnis to indicate her the place where build the sanctuary.
Here now are placed the statues of Saint Anna with the child Mary and the shepherdess kneeling in prayer facing them.
The St.Anna Sanctuary is also the starting point for some beautiful excursions, including the Tour of the Lakes.
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