Trying to plan your trip to Santuario Madonna della Corona in northern Italy? Whether you’re hiking the Pilgrim’s Trail or taking the short walk from Spiazzi, this guide has everything you need to know in advance for your day trip.
The secluded Santuario Madonna della Corona has long been a place of religious pilgrimage, yet a journey through the cliffs of Monte Baldo was historically only really embarked upon by those who felt the call to be physically and metaphorically closer to God.
For many more in recent years (certainly for us) however, the fascination with this remarkable Italian site begins with social media, and a singular image of a church carved into and of the rock, suspended somewhere between Heaven and Earth; a feat of faith and architecture that could call out to even the most stubbornly atheistic.
During our stay in Verona, we knew we simply had to visit.
Despite not being religious, we felt that it was only fitting to hike in the long way, along an old pilgrim’s path named ‘Hope’ that leads straight up through the mountains; this would give us a sense of the church’s uniqueness, more of an adventure, and conveniently sweat off some of the pasta weight from the previous week or so of this particular Italy trip.
It was all very much worth the journey.
If you’re currently trying to plan a trip to Santuario Madonna della Corona, whether it’s for religious, or photographic reasons - or a fascination with the curious - then this guide is for you.
Within it, you’ll find advice on the easier and the more challenging ways to reach Santuario Madonna della Corona, including detailed instructions on how to plan your route from Verona as well as Lake Garda with public transport or your own car, as well as a short history of the building. We’ve also included all the essentials on visiting and photographing this active place of worship respectfully, alongside opening times and personal travel tips.
This is how to plan your visit to Santuario Madonna della Corona.
the essentials
Where | Near the villages of Spiazzi and Brentino Belluno, the church can be found here on Google Maps. It’s best accessed on a day trip from Verona or Lake Garda.
Tickets | Entrance is free.
Transport | Easy to reach with a rental car, it’s also possible with limited train and bus connections from Verona and Lake Garda. If going with public transport, please make sure you know in advance when your last departures and connections are for the return journey!
When | Santuario Madonna della Corona is open from 8 am - 6 pm, November to March, 7 am - 7.30 pm April to October. Mass is carried out every day.
The Sanctuary of MAdonna Della Corona | How to Plan Your Visit
History of Santuario Madonna della Corona
For more than a thousand years, the cliffs of Monte Baldo have been home to the holy; its hidden recesses providing hermit monks with a place for silent reflection as early as the 11th century, and eventually the setting for a small monastery dedicated to Santa Maria di Montebaldo.
A shrine dedicated to Madonna della Corona came somewhat later but, as is common with tales of old, its origins become a little muddled.
Legend tends to lean towards the miraculous appearance of a small statue, angelically transported from the island of Rhodes (which was just invaded by the Muslim army) to a stone ledge set within the cliffs, whilst those few concerned more with facts and less with holy miracles, prefer to believe that the icon was simply a gift from Lodovico Castelbarco, a nobleman from Rovereto.
Whichever version holds water for you, the presence of this 70cm tall artefact and the small building within which it was initially enshrined, provides the singular reason for 500 years of Catholic pilgrimage - and the overhaul of the once modest monastery in the mountains.
Indeed, under the new title of ‘Santuario Madonna della Corona’, there have been two significant and substantial overhauls undertaken of the building, the first completed in 1685 and the second in the late 19th century.
What many visitors to the site may not realise however, is that the the modern day sanctuary - visited by up to 40,000 people a year - is actually a reconstruction of what once existed. Damage to the original extension built in the 19th century meant that in 1970, an Italian architect was tasked with the goal of partially demolishing, rebuilding and preserving the church’s most important and significant parts.
Any trip to Italy results in a few stops at churches or cathedrals, whether they’re all that interesting or not, but we both felt that there was something a little different at Santuario Madonna della Corona (Sanctuary of the Lady of the Crown). Perhaps it was the setting, perhaps it was because we had hiked, or perhaps it was due to there not being significant numbers of tourists or worshippers when we were there, but there was a serene, peaceful energy within its walls. Lacking the ostentatious decoration and show of wealth which is a signature of many large and small religious buildings in this country, its relatively austere appearance only added to the feeling (to two people who aren’t religious) that this was built by those driven by a sincere faith.
How to Visit Madonna della Corona from Spiazzi
The most challenging aspect of a day trip to Madonna della Corona remains its relative inaccessibility. However, given that it’s carved into a mountain, that’s sort of part of the appeal, no?
So, how do you get to Santuario Madonna della Corona? The two main access points are via Spiazzi and Brentino Belluno - both are just close enough to Verona to make it a realistic day trip, but the connections aren’t as good as you may expect; similarly, they’re not too far at all from Lake Garda, but also not terribly convenient to reach by public transport out of season. Thankfully, this requirement to be mildly inconvenienced or plan ahead does keep visitors numbers from verging upon the completely ridiculous (if this place was just outside Verona, for example, it would be heaving and completely ruined).
If you have a rental car though, it’s all pretty plain sailing (and you can even tag it on your way up to the Dolomites).
From Spiazzi
By far the easiest (and most popular) way of accessing Madonna della Corona is from the tiny touristic village of Spiazzi (Google Maps), which can be reached by car or slightly more convoluted public transport.
If you’re visiting as part of your own Italian road trip, then you should simply put Spiazzi into GPS and make your way to the village, rather than trying to trying drive to the site itself. Due to the church’s popularity, the parking in Spiazzi is a tad limited across the two car parks - because of this, if you're driving to the Santuario, we'd highly recommend arriving nice and early and, if possible, avoiding weekends or public holidays. Parking costs €2 for the duration of your stay, and you can find the main car park here.
From Spiazzi, you have two options to reach the church:
Walk | Depending upon your level of fitness, and how many times you stop to admire the views, the walk down the paved path to Santuario Madonna della Corona should take no more than 20 minutes. It’s clearly signposted. Alternatively, there is a large flight of stairs which you can take as a shortcut, however, doing so would mean missing the adorable alpacas at the start of the walk, and the bronze Stations of the Cross along the way.
Shuttle Bus | The Spiazzi-Madonna della Corona shuttle bus runs up and down the hill every 30 minutes in summer (Mon-Fri, starting from 9.02 am), with increased departures every 15 minutes on Saturdays and holidays after 10.02 am). The yellow pick up point is easy to spot, just by the main car park. Honestly though, unless you're severely limited with your mobility, we really wouldn't recommend the shuttle over going on foot. Price is €1.80 one way, or €3 return, and not that out of season schedules may vary.
The pick-up point for the shuttle bus from the church can be found on the left hand side just a minute’s walk on the road back up to Spiazzi.
Public Transport from Verona to Spiazzi
Unfortunately, there is not a direct bus from Verona to Spiazzi and the already limited availability of connections varies according to season.
So, you will need to hop on a bus from Verona at Porta Nuova, the city’s main bus terminal and train station, to Caprino Veronese or Affi (depending on the time of year, and bus lines running, but usually the 471 or 476), then change to a bus heading to Spiazzi.
See, we told you it wasn’t straightforward…
This is why we highly recommend doing an additional bit of research on Google Maps for the public transport route and times for your specific travel date before settling on this option - and to double check with the bus drive where / when you need to make your connection. Journey time is 90 minutes to two hours, depending on those connections, and the bus will drop you off in the village right by the path to the church.
For the return journey from Spiazzi to Verona, you'll need to head a little down the road to the bus stop located here. It’s a really good idea to check the return timetable once you arrive in the village to plan ahead; as there are only a handful of buses to and from Spiazzi each day, you will need to plan your route carefully and allow enough time for connections back to Verona. On our way back, the last bus was at 4.15 pm and the connection in Cavalon was a pretty tight squeeze!
You can buy your tickets (€2.80 for a 90-minute journey) on the day from the ticket office at Porta Nuova or via the ATV app - find out more about how to do this in our post '11 Things to Know Before You Visit Verona'.
Public Transport from Lake Garda to Spiazzi
Between the months of June to September, there is a bus service that runs from Lake Garda to Spiazzi - and vice-versa - on bus line 476, which includes multiple pick-up points in and around Lake Garda.
Outside of these months, you'll usually have to take two buses, changing in Caprino Veronese as above.
Do note that if you are travelling around Lake Garda predominantly by public transport, you may benefit from buying one the multi-day transport passes. You can find out more information here.
If unsure on options and times, you’ll find bus schedules at both stops as well as at the Infopoint tourist office in Spiazzi.
How To Visit Madonna Della Corona With A Tour
Despite the popularity of this site, there are only a limited number of tours that we could find online, with the ability to book in advance.
This seven hour tour is one such option. Including pick up in Verona, time to experience the walk from Spiazzi, the sanctuary and the views with the aid of a bilingual guide, followed by a traditional lunch with local ingredients (and wine, of course) overlooking a lake.
You can find out further details here.
The Pilgrim's Trail Hike from Brentino Belluno
The Pilgrim’s Path (Sentiero Del Pellegrino) also goes by the name ‘Hope Trail’ (Sentiero dell Esperanza). Once used by the holy to access the shrine of Madonna della Corona, its use has faded in recent years due to the convenience of accessing the church from Spiazzi.
That said, if you’re fit and able, we’d highly recommend embarking upon this relatively short hike to arrive at the sanctuary the way that thousands before you have. We’d say that’s especially true if you are visiting here for tourism not connected to religion - the church is undoubtedly impressive, but simply driving to Spiazzi and taking a short stroll for the photo opp may feel a tad anti-climatic. It may be a British mentality thing, but we believe in making a day of something and each experience a tad more memorable, and the hike provided just that alongside revealing the beauty of the church to us only after it had been earned with a sweaty struggle.
if that sounds like something for you, then just read on!
For the Pilgrim’s Path, all roads lead to little Brentino Belluno, the village at the foot of the mountains. It’s got a decent-sized car park so you can easily drive here, whilst it’s also possible to reach it by bus from Verona / Lake Garda and train (sort of) - we’ve shared all the details on transport connections below.
If driving and hiking, just factor in that you’ll also have to hike back down!
The Hike to Santuario Madonna della Corona
The location of the stone steps leading off the Via Santuario to mark the start of the Sentiero Del Pellegrino can be found here on Google Maps. The path itself is very well-signposted, and consists of 1540 steps straight up, carving a steep route through the mountains. It’s only about 2.5 kms in length, but takes a little longer than you may expect given that the elevation gain is 600 metres - it should take 1.5 to 2 hours.
Starting the trail early is a good idea, especially if it's in hot, sunny weather. However, take a layer too as it can get a little more chilly the further you ascend. Although you don’t need hiking shoes or boots to negotiate the path, we’d highly recommend having a solid pair of trainers with good grip (especially in rainy conditions when the stones can get very slippy). We have read of others attempting this in sandals, but for obvious reasons, we’d strongly caution against it. It’s a pretty steep, narrow walk in sections, but shouldn’t pose any problems for people who have a standard level of fitness.
There are actually a bunch of walking trails situated in and around this region, but the Pilgrim’s Path to / from Brentino Belluno is always indicated by #73 on the red and white way marks.
How to Get to Brentino Belluno from Verona
We must admit that finding information on the best way to to reach Brentino Belluno from Verona by public transport was a little difficult. In the end, we took a train from Verona Porta Nuova to Peri (27 minutes, €4.50 each), and then walked for about an hour through a couple of villages and along a cycle path to Brentino Belluno. This route is easily identifiable on Google Maps, is actually very picturesque and provides a little glimpse into life in the mountainous - slightly more Austrian - regions of northern Italy.
If you don’t mind the walk, then this option is also really practical due to the regular trains from Verona to Peri.
Alternatively, it is possible to take a train to Borghetto, and then the number 472 bus to Brentino Belluno. Do note however that bus departures from Borghetto are incredibly limited (at the time of writing, there was only one at 13.15 - do let us know if you find something different) so depending how quickly you can hike up to the sanctuary, and how much time you wold like to spend exploring the area, this may not allow enough time to catch the limited public transport options from Spiazzi back to Verona.
If you have access to a car for your day trip, the journey to Brentino from Verona is quick, at just under 45 minutes.
Read Later | 13 Wonderful Things to do in Verona
How to get to Brentino Belluno from Lake Garda
Unfortunately, whilst it is certainly possible to reach Brentino from the Lake Garda region by public transport, it involves several trains, the last of which deposits you at Borghetto for the same 472 bus as mentioned above.
In all honesty, if you are looking to hike this trail from your base near the lake, we’d recommend using your own vehicle, parking it in the car park, and hiking up and then back down.
Rules & Respectful Visits
Unsurprisingly given that this is an active place of worship, there are various rules that should be adhered to by all who visit:
No dogs allowed | Nope, even if he can recite the Lord's Prayer, your four-legged friend won't be allowed in.
Cover up | As is common across all religious sites in Italy, being covered up is important - specifically, no bare shoulders, no short shorts or mini-dresses and definitely no beachwear. Emily actually brought a change of clothes for her visit so that she could stay cool on the hike, but be respectful once we got there.
Photography | Although it's technically allowed to take photos inside the church (so long as you don't use flash), due to the number of people sitting in prayerful silence, we would have felt uncomfortable doing so.
Whilst it isn't a rule as such, we'd highly recommend that whether you're religious or not, taking a moment inside the church for silent reflection - not for loud conversations. This is still a religious building with regular sermons, and not primarily a tourist site (although it will inevitable veer toward that), and we particularly encourage non-religious visitors to make sure they do not impinge on the experience of visiting for the faithful.
Facilities Available at Santuario Madonna della Corona
Given the Santuary's location hugging the cliffside, one might expect the facilites available for visitors to be some what limited - but his isn't the case at all!
Just after you walk through the dark tunnel, you'll find a suprisingly well-priced little cafe selling sandwiches, coffee and - naturally - Aperol Spritz! There's also a small gift shop selling general tourist fare and a variety of religious icons.
Further along, you'll find the toilets split over two floors; female upstairs and chaps downstairs (where you'll also find a water fountain to fill up your bottles).
Alternatively, there are a number of hotels and restaurants in the village of Spiazzi where it is possible to grab meal, drinks or a simple snack before or after your visit.
Photography Tips for Capturing the Sanctuary
Arriving at the Santuario via the Pilgrim's Path means it can take a little while to orientate yourself as to where that iconic view is actually from. So, emboldened by our slowly improving grasp of the local language, we had a lovely little chat with the lady that runs the souvenir shop. She quickly informed us that we would be better off with a drone.
Bugger.
For those, like us, that have resisted purchasing a drone (one half of ADR positively detests them), the next best vantage point is from the small bus stop for the shuttle bus, which can be found a few metres away from the entrance to the large flight of stairs.
If you do decide to drone here, please be aware that this is a religious site, and whilst you technically have permission, they can detract somewhat from the peaceful environment and may ruin a very special experience for those that have come all this way for more than just a nice view or Instagram shot.
Your Next Stop
13 Wonderful Things to Do in Verona
10 Things to Know Before You Visit Verona
Where to Stay in Verona (published soon)
10 Wonderful Day Trips from Verona
A Beginner’s Guide to Visiting the Dolomites
23 Things to Know Before You Visit Italy
