The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia is a church and surrounding buildings located some six kilometers from the center of Savona,

Liguria it, Ligure , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

, northern Italy. It is built on the site commemorating the apparition of the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

to the shepherd and officially blessed Antonio Botta (18 March 1536). She appeared to the shepherd during a time of war between Savona and

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

, and had the message inviting both parties to exercise ''"Misericordia e non Giustizia"'' ("Mercy and not Justice"). The church is located about 6 kilometers from the center of the city. The present

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

church was designed by Pace Antonio Sormano in 1536-1540. The Baroque facade was designed and built by Taddeo Carlone in 1609-1611. The interior is highly decorated by prominent architects and artists. The buildings surrounding the church became a hospice and orphanage. The main altar is attributed to the studio of Francesco Maria Schiaffino. The cupola frescoes are by

Bernardo Castello Bernardo Castello (or Castelli) (1557–1629) was an Italian painter of the late-Mannerist style, active mainly in Genoa and Liguria. He is mainly known as a portrait and historical painter.He needs to be distinguished from Giovanni Battista Ca ...

Savona Santuario di Nostra Signora della Misericordia 008

The four pinnacles were decorated by the painter Narducci. The vault of the nave was decorated by Narducci, Riva, Giuseppe Ghislandi, and the stuccoist Castori. The left aisle and chapels contain two altarpieces, a ''Madonna della Neve'' (1st chapel) and a ''Nativity'' (3rd chapel) by

. The second chapel has a marble relief by

Gianlorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, , ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 159828 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor of his ...

. The third chapel has a marble relief of the ''Annunciation'' by Andrea Semino. The right aisle contains an altarpiece of the ''Immaculate Conception'' by Paolo Gerolamo Brusco (1742-1820), a ''Nativity'' by

Orazio Borgianni Orazio Borgianni (6 April 1574 – 14 January 1616) was an Italian painter and etcher of the Mannerist and early- Baroque periods. He was the stepbrother of the sculptor and architect Giulio Lasso. Borgianni was born in Rome, where he was doc ...

(1578-1616), a ''Presentation of Mary at the Temple'' by

Domenichino Domenico Zampieri (, ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (, ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters. Life Domenichino was born in Bologna, son of a sho ...

. The Crucifix at the end of the aisle is by

Giovanni Battista Paggi Giovanni Battista Paggi (27 February 1554 – 12 March 1627) was an Italian painter, sculptor, and writer. His style spans the Late-Renaissance and early- Baroque. Life He was born in Genoa into the well-to-do family of his father Pellegrino. ...

(1554-1627). The chorus has a magnificently designed intarsio or wood inlay panels by Vincenzo e Giuseppe Garassino, completed in the 18th century. The central panel reproduces a painting by Giuseppe Agostino Ratti. The apse angel frescoes were completed in an antique fashion by Eso Peluzzi in 1928. The crypt statue of the virgin is by Pietro Orsolino.

External links

Sanctuary at Savona
homepage. {{commons-inline Churches in the province of Savona Savona Shrines to the Virgin Mary 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Baroque architecture in Liguria 1611 establishments in Italy Savona Minor basilicas in Liguria Churches completed in 1611