(ill. Sanctuary Lodge view, 1930)    


SHRINE OF BLESSED VIRGIN OF SORROWS
Via San Francesco, Airuno - from Vescogna 5,6 km 

The Shrine of Blessed Virgins of Sorrows or "della Rocca"  is, toghether with the Church of St. Colombano and Gottardo of Arlate of Calco, the oldest place of worship in the parish church of Brivio. It stands on the foundation of an old castle from 960, 366 meters above sea level, dominating the town of Airuno and the valley of the River Adda, in a charming place of extraordinary beauty of landscape and spiritual atmosphere. The presence of the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary dates to 1558.

The inside of the building ia a large chapel with a cross vault. a majestic marble altar of Pier Paolo Pirovano with antependium of 1079 rests on a wall with frescos from the late 15th century. Above the entrance is the wooden choir, with an ancient organ from 1862, and on the wall, paitings of the 17th century rapresenting San Giovanni and the finding of the cross. On the left side of the church a rectangular loggetta with arches supported by columns from the 17th century can be seen dominating the forested hills and the peaceful view of the River Adda. The Sanctuary is reached along a road that starts from the back of the parish church; midway is the first of seven chapels from the 18th century, with frescoes of the mysteries of the Passion. In 1923, the Holy Stairs was built with 130 granite steps that connected the road to the entrance of the Sanctuary, and on its sides, laying between rows of cypress trees, stand the thirteen votive aedicules of the Via Crucis, wich culminate in the chapel-tomb and the statue of the dead Christ.