The Baroque basilica of Madonna di Pietralba, the “Cathedral in the Dolomites”, rises majestically in the Val d’Ega valley
Image gallery: Madonna di Pietralba Pilgrimage Site
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Video : The Sanctuary Madonna di Pietralba as seen from above
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video : Churches in South Tyrol
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video : Pilgrimage Church of Pietralba
At 1,520 m a.s.l., South Tyrol's most important pilgrimage site is located: Madonna di Pietralba, or "Maria Weissenstein" in German. The basilica rises majestically above the Val d'Ega valley near the village of Monte San Pietro. Here, in 1553, the Virgin Mother appeared to the hermit Leonhard Weissensteiner after he had fallen into a deep ravine. In her honour he erected a little chapel, which was subsequently expanded and turned into an impressive Baroque pilgrimage church. The imposing white monastery was added later. In 1885, the image of the Sorrowful Mother of God was re-crowned by the then Bishop of Trento, Giovanni Giacomo della Bona.
The numerous votive pictures in the church bear witness to the crowd of pilgrims who visit Madonna di Pietralba every year. Among the art treasures of the basilica are the high altar, which is covered with gold and silver leaf, the picture of the Sorrowful Mother of God and the beautiful frescoes done by Adam Mölk. Two chapels belong to the sanctuary: the original chapel inside the church and the Chapel of St. Peregrin Laziosi outside, patron saint of cancer patients.
In 1925, the pilgrimage site was handed over to the Italian Servites (Servi di Maria). The place gained further fame in summer 1988, when Pope John Paul II visited it. But already Pope John Paul I appreciated Madonna di Pietralba as a summer resort. And how to reach the pilgrimage site? A well-signposted road leads from the Val d'Ega valley to the pilgrimage church, where there is a large car park. It can also be reached on foot from Laives - the old pilgrimage path leads in about 4 hours from the Laives Parish Church via the Via Pietralba road to the basilica.
Contact info
- Pietralba / Weissenstein 9 - 39050 - Monte San Pietro / Petersberg
- +39 0471 615124
- info@weissenstein-pietralba.com
Opening times
freely accessible during the day
Admission
pilgrimage church:
freely accessible
guided tour:
voluntary donation
More information
Guided tour to the discovery of history, art and tradition of the pilgrimage site at 4 pm (approx. 1 hour, reservation by phone till noon time, max. 10 persons).
Church service (in German language) on workdays at 10 am, on church holidays at 10 am, 2 pm and 4 pm - church service (in Italian language) on workdays at 11 am and 6.30 pm, on church holidays at 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm, from April to October also at 5 pm.