Rising at the base of towering and looming cliffs, surrounded by ancient trees, a place of natural beauty enhanced by the restrained but elegant facade of the sanctuary, the destination of many pilgrims over the centuries, even coming from Savoy.
Today it houses a collection recording the religiosity of the Lanzo Valleys: a museum full of evocations and images that allow you to discover a little known but vital aspect of local culture.
The Sanctuary was built in 1630 on the remains of a shrine: it was originally a small chapel, but extensions followed one another until the intervention of the master architects from Lugano, Brilli and Gagliardi.
The present building, dating from 1750 - 1770, has a white rendered facade topped by a semicircular pediment on which was painted the date 1754. Inside it has many elements of artistic interest: worthy of note is the high altar in Indian walnut inlaid with ivory; of considerable value also is the baroque reliquary containing the miraculous pictures which gave rise to the building of the Sanctuary, and the approximately one hundred votive offerings on the walls.
The Sanctuary is also famous for the 444 access steps and for the statue of the Black Madonna. Celebrations are held for the anniversaries of the Assumption (15 August), the Nativity of Mary (8 September) and the Apparition of Our Lady (30 September).