Santuario della Beata Vergine del Soccorso

This small circular walk to the Santuary of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso. The Sanctuary is located at the end of the Sacred Mountain of Ossuccio walk way, in a beautiful position overlooking the lake, the Comacina island and the Tremezzina area. The lane is lined with 14 chapels illustrating the Mysteries of the Rosary through 230 clay sculptures made by stucco artists from the Intelvi valley. The Sacro Monte has been registered since 2003 on the list of the Humanity World Heritage. The Santuary is open daily from 7:00-19:00

Description

At Lenno, from the boat landing stage, follow the lakeside to the left (Viale C. Lomazzi) in order to reach the church square called Piazza XI Febbraio, where the church St. Stefano and the XII century baptistery stand.
Cross the main road (there is an underpass), head north, and just past the post office (close to the bus stop) pick up the alley to the left in the direction of the Santuario della B.V. del Soccorso.

After 200 m you pass a building with the writing “La Cooperativa” on the right. Continue another 30 m, then turn left past the church of the Santissima Trinità. After about 20 m at the intersection, ignore via Rima, and turn right into Via Don Cadenazzi. Acsend the steps in order to reach Viale Libronico, which you follow to the left. Ignore the turn off for the “Abbazia dell’Acquafredda,” the abbey standing slightly uphill on the right, founded in 1153. At the next intersection turn right. The road leads on to a cobblestone path which you follow to the right (on the left is the antique settlement of Molgisio). At the next intersection continue left ignoring the Via ai Monti. You soon reach the first shrine of the Sacro Monte of Ossuccio.

Along the cobbled street that gradually climbs to the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso there are 14 frescoed chapels decorated with statues and stuccoes by the artists of the Val d’Intelvi. Dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary, these small chapels weer built between 1635 and 1714 and are part of the context of the pre-alpine Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy. The aim of the Sacred Mountaians was to favour, by means of a pilgrimage, consolidation of the faith. and to combat the diffusion of Protestant Reformation.

The lane finishes at the church of the Beata Vergine that houses prestigious frescoes and stuccoes, as well as a 14th centuary statue featuring Our Lady with childe. The statue, which is venerated by many, is the work of the Campionesi Masters. To this day the Sanctuary is a destination favoured by numerous pilgrims.

According to devotional tales, the Sanctuary was built because of the discovery of a marble statue of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child in a cave by a deaf mute shepherd girl. During the 15th century a small shrine was built to protect the statue that was believed to be miraculous. The small shrine was first enlarged and then transformed into a church. The central part was completed in 1537.

After your visit to the church, turn back along the cobble path as far as the IV shrine. From the little square, in front of the bar Riposo, keep to the left and pick up the street leading along the Locanda Garzola. Follow it downhill for about 800 m till you arrive at the church St.Eufemia and Vincenzo. This building, today a parish church, was built when the same named church that stood on the Island Comacina was destroyed in 1169 during the war between Como and the Island. Turn left and walk below the bell tower of the church in order to reach the main road close to the post office. Cross the main road and continue left and after 20 m you pick up a little lane that passes in front of a beautiful villa called Villa Balbiano with a splendid park with fountains.

Then cross the Perlana stream over a small foot bridge and along “La Via Regina,” and enter the historic centre of Campo. You reach the doorway of Villa Monastero, so called because it was built on the foundations of an antique monastery of the XI century. Turn left and go up the steps. You cross the main road over an old pedestrian bridge and follow the “Vecchia Strada Regina” for about 300 m till you reach the main road, which you cross in order to pick its continuation. At an intersection where there is a fountain, turn right into Vicolo Delmati. It leads past a watch tower on the left, probably erected as a tax control post. Soon you reach the lakeside promenade around the beautiful “Golfo di Venere.” Follow it to the left and you soon reach the square of Lenno.

On the far end of the peninsula Lavedo stands the Villa Balbianello built in the 17th century. Its beautiful gardens are open to the public from half mid-March until mid January. Opening times are from 10.00 till 18.00, with Mondays and Wednesdays closed. From the Lido of Lenno there is a regular taxi boat service to the villa.