According to tradition, in 1487 the village of Grosotto was spared from being sacked by the Grisons troops thanks to the Virgin Mary’s intervention. She is said to have appeared to the Swiss soldiers and to the villagers who approached them carrying only a banner with the cross.
This miracle soon led to the construction of a church that, over the centuries, has become one of Valtellina’s most important thanks to its rich artistic treasures: the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Graces in Grosotto. While traces of the original place of worship remain visible, the building you see today is a stunning 17th-century structure featuring a single nave, four side chapels, and a bell tower that stands as one of the tallest in the valley.
Passing through Grosotto’s green stone portal, you’ll find yourself under a beautifully frescoed ceiling that brightens the church, surrounded by lavish stuccoes, carvings, and gilding. At the far end, the main altar’s altarpiece commands attention as a Baroque masterpiece—an imposing work over ten meters high, created by the Camunian artist Pietro Ramus in the 17th century. Also notable is the organ case, carved in wood in the early 1700s, depicting the Apparition to the Grisons soldiers that inspired the sanctuary. The organ itself dates from 1875 and is a true musical treasure, boasting 37 registers and over 1300 pipes.
Another captivating detail is the walnut pulpit, crafted by Grosotto native Giovanni Andrea Musatto, topped by a figure of Saint Michael the Archangel crushing the dragon. Among the most precious artworks is the wooden sculpture of the Madonna of Graces, created in the 15th century by the Pavia sculptor Giacomo del Maino, kept in a glass case on the altar of the second chapel on the right. The sanctuary also houses magnificent paintings, including a canvas of the Holy Family painted in 1563 by Marcello Venusti, a Renaissance artist from Mazzo in Valtellina, who was a pupil of Raphael’s workshop and a friend of Michelangelo Buonarroti.
There’s so much to discover during a visit to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Graces in Grosotto—a true Alpine gem preserving centuries of history and art, ready to amaze you at every turn.
