MOVIMENTO RANGERS - GRM Travel Guide

Nestled on Salita della Madonnetta in Genoa, the Santuario della Madonnetta is more than just a church; it's a repository of faith, art, and local history. Constructed in 1696 for the Discalced Augustinian Friars, its design is attributed to the architect Antonio Ricca. The sanctuary derives its name from an alabaster statuette of the Madonna, once sheltered by the preacher Giacinto on the very hillock where the sanctuary now stands.Legend has it that Padre Giacinto received a promise from the Virgin Mary, vowing to appear in the Sanctuary every August 15th until the end of time. This gave rise to the tradition of the friars opening their doors to the faithful, celebrating the return of the Virgin. This celebration continued uninterrupted from 1696 to 1943, when wartime exigencies forced its suspension. It was revived in 2012 thanks to the initiative of Father Eugenio Cavallari.The sanctuary is also known for the Movimento Rangers, a youth association founded at the Santuario della Madonnetta in 1984. The Rangers began as the Gruppo Ragazzi Madonnetta, founded by a priest, P. Modesto, and some eighteen-year-old young people.Inside, visitors can admire frescoes and artistic treasures, including an 18th-century nativity scene. The shrine holds a collection of around 25,000 relics, including skulls and bones.