Santuario di Vicoforte - Sanctuary of Vicoforte

Located between the grandeur of the Alps and the Langa Monregalese hills, the Santuario di Vicoforte remains an architectural triumph as its elliptical cupola is reported to be the largest of its kind in Europe. History reports that in the 1590’s a hunter accidentally damaged a fresco of the Madonna and Child causing it to bleed where injured. The hunter, in an effort to erase his sins, began collecting money to repair the painting. Local legend has it that the gun hanging in the sanctuary is the same one used by the hunter in the accidental desecration of fresco. Several years later construction was started on a large sanctuary which, due to the death of the architect and Duke of Savoy who had commissioned the work, was not completed until the mid to late 18th century.

Note: this description has been edited by Karen Brown Travel