Madonna del Sasso

The sanctuary stands on a rock spur at about 370 metres, high above Locarno, founded after the Franciscan Bartolomeo d'Ivrea reported an apparition of the Virgin in 1480, and it has been a pilgrimage site since. The buildings are layered: church, convent, terraces and chapels stacked on the crag, painted the ochre and white of Ticino. Inside are two significant paintings - Bramantino's Flight into Egypt of 1520 and Antonio Ciseri's Transport of Christ to the Sepulchre of 1870 - alongside a large collection of ex-voto panels left by pilgrims. The old pilgrim path climbs from Locarno past chapels with life-size terracotta groups. A funicular offers the easy alternative, and the terrace looks down over the town to Lake Maggiore.

What to look for

• A sanctuary on a crag - church and convent stacked above Locarno.
• Bramantino's Flight into Egypt - the 1520 painting inside.
• Ex-voto panels - generations of pilgrim offerings on the walls.
• A chapel-lined pilgrim path - with terracotta figure groups on the climb.

When to go

All year. Two hours.

What to expect

The pilgrim path is steep and takes about half an hour uphill. It is an active sanctuary, so parts close for services and dress is expected to be respectful. The museum keeps limited hours. The terrace fills when the funicular arrives.

Nearby

Locarno and its piazza are below; Cardada is above by cable car.

Key facts