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Crypt with Remains of the Primitive Oratory
The crypt of the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Reggio preserves the remains of an ancient oratory that predates the church built above it, likely before the 11th century. This is the oldest physical evidence of the entire complex, even older than the sanctuary's first documented mention in 1248. What to see here provides a tangible link to Vernazzo's earliest religious history.
Black Virgin with the Christ Child
The Black Madonna with the Christ Child is a canvas-on-wood painting that serves as the focal point of this sanctuary, locally known as 'la Africana'. The work depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, who carries a scroll of Sacred Scripture. This venerated image remains central to the spiritual life of Vernazzo and draws visitors seeking to understand the region's religious heritage.
Weeping Column
The Column of Tears stands as a striking funerary monument on the esplanade surrounding the sanctuary, positioned on the slope that borders the piazzale alongside various burial plaques. It sits near a tomb covered by a shield-shaped stone bearing the emblem of the Knights of Malta. This distinctive architectural feature offers insight into the area's religious and historical significance.
Thousand-Year-Old Cypress (800 Years)
Standing against the side of the sanctuary church in Vernazzo, this venerable cypress reaches 23 metres in height with a diameter of 4 metres. At an estimated 800 years old, it is reckoned to be the oldest cypress in the whole of Liguria. A remarkable specimen worth seeing if you're visiting the village.
Forestry Convent (19th Century)
The forestería-convento is a 19th-century hospice that forms part of the sanctuary complex, adjoining the other buildings on site. It originally served as the residence of a convent of nuns, completing the sanctuary's architectural and spiritual ensemble. Visitors can see how this structure integrated with the broader religious community that occupied the sanctuary grounds.
- 1.Crypt with Remains of the Primitive Oratory
- 2.Black Virgin with the Christ Child
- 3.Weeping Column
- 4.Thousand-Year-Old Cypress (800 Years)
- 5.Forestry Convent (19th Century)
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