Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie al Sasso

The Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie al Sasso, also known as the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, is located in the municipality of Pontassieve, near Florence. Situated 565 meters above sea level, it stands as a prominent architectural complex within the Santa Brigida Protected Natural Area. Its elevated position offers sweeping views of the Valdarno and Val di Sieve valleys. The sanctuary's origins trace back to the High Middle Ages when hermits used caves in the area for religious practices. According to legend, between 1484 and 1485, the Virgin Mary appeared multiple times to a shepherdess near a tabernacle erected by the hermits. The shepherdess, Eletta Ricovera, and her sister witnessed the apparitions and were instructed by the Virgin Mary to spread the word and encourage the building of a church. Construction of a small oratory began, and as the site's fame grew, a larger church was built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The complex was enclosed in the late 16th century, and a loggia was added in the 17th century to shelter pilgrims. Inside the church, visitors can admire the high altar from around 1504, attributed to a student of Sansovino, and wooden statues depicting Eletta Ricovera and her father. The lower oratory, also known as the Chapel of Apparitions, preserves traces of the ancient medieval hermitage and includes the cell of Saint Andrew. The sanctuary is still a place of pilgrimage. The church is simple and evocative, maintained by friars of the Community of the children of God. From the church you can access the crypt, where there is a miraculous image of the Madonna, and the cell of St. Andrew.