In the village of Re, in Valle Vigezzo, stands the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Blood, one of the most important and well-known pilgrimage destinations in all of Piedmont, visited every year by numerous faithful and visitors.
A place of worship and art
The sanctuary, imposing in size compared to the scale of the small village that hosts it, houses the sacred image to which popular devotion is linked, as well as decorations and works that also make it a place of artistic interest, not only religious.
For service times and information about the sanctuary, please refer to the official website of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Blood.
Re, the sanctuary village
The village of Re developed over time around the sanctuary and largely lives in connection with the flow of pilgrims and visitors. It is located a short distance from Santa Maria Maggiore, the main town of Valle Vigezzo, and is easily reached by travelling through the valley towards the Swiss border.
A stop in the heart of Valle Vigezzo
For those visiting Valle Vigezzo, the sanctuary in Re is often one of the stops on a wider itinerary through the valley’s villages, described in the article dedicated to Valle Vigezzo. Those continuing towards the Ossola valley floor can combine their visit with a tasting among the vineyards of Val d’Ossola.
Two buildings, two eras
The sanctuary now consists of two distinct buildings, from different construction periods and in different styles: the older church, dating back to the early 17th century, and the basilica, built between 1922 and 1958. Only many years after the miracle of 1494, in 1627, the Bishop of Novara Carlo Bascapè inaugurated the first sanctuary, built at his own initiative.
A Byzantine-style basilica
The basilica visible today, in Neo-Byzantine style, was inaugurated on 5 August 1958 to a design by architect Edoardo Collamarini, built entirely by local workers and craftsmen, and elevated to the dignity of a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1958. Upon entering, visitors are struck by the light filtering through thirty large windows, illuminating the spacious interior. The precious fresco at the centre of the altar is framed by polychrome marble from Lombardy, dating back to 1733.
A pilgrimage still alive
Every year, thousands of faithful continue to travel to Re to pay homage to the miraculous image, in a pilgrimage that has been constantly renewed for more than five hundred years: a devotion that makes this small village in Valle Vigezzo a spiritual landmark far beyond the valley’s borders, attracting visitors from all over Piedmont and neighbouring regions.
A sanctuary open to all
Beyond religious affiliation, the Sanctuary of Re also welcomes ordinary visitors every year, drawn by the artistic and architectural value of the complex, confirming how places of this kind can speak, in different ways, both to believers and to those who approach them from a more cultural than spiritual perspective.
One final note: its proximity to the Swiss border also makes the Sanctuary of Re a destination for pilgrims from the other side of the Alps, confirming a welcoming vocation that transcends national borders.
A miracle that has lasted for more than five hundred years, still at the heart of popular devotion today.
A miracle, a basilica, five hundred years of uninterrupted faith.
A pilgrimage that has lasted for more than five hundred years.
One final thought on the Sanctuary of Re: its ability to attract the faithful across generations shows how popular devotion can withstand the deepest social changes.
One sanctuary, five hundred years of faith still alive.
Five hundred years of faith, still alive and deeply felt today.
The Sanctuary of Re remains a pilgrimage destination all year round and an ideal starting point for those wishing to continue their itinerary towards Valle Vigezzo, the valley of painters, with its artistic traditions and landscapes unique to Ossola.
