New Basilica, Oropa

After breakfast we had a private tour with a guide around the main buildings that make up the sanctuary. The outside and inside of the ‘new’ Basilica was very impressive. See extras too.

The Black Madonna is crowned again every 100 years, the last time was 2020, postponed to 2021 due to Covid. Thirty thousand people in Italy who weren’t able to make the coronation sent instead a small piece of cloth depicting what the Virgin Mary means to them. The text they wrote to accompany the cloths will be made into a book. The cloths were then sewn together by the nuns. The finished cloak for the Madonna was 25 mètres long. It was placed on the statue then rolled out behind her (see extra). A very interesting morning learning all about the sanctuary and its traditions.

We had coffee and cake together before heading home to our different countries. Memorable weekend.