St. Romedio Sanctuary

The Saint Romedio sanctuary near the village of Sanzeno in the Val di Non is the most interesting example of medieval Christian art in Trentino.

The monument, a well-known pilgrimage place, was built on a 70-metre high calcareous rock and is composed of several churches and chapels which are all connected by a steep stairway with 131 steps. The oldest chapel of the building dates back to the 11th century and over the centuries three little churches, two chapels, as well as seven Passion’s aedicules have been added. The natural landscape surrounding the sanctuary is simply amazing.

This suggestive and spiritual location is dedicated to the hermit Romedio from Thaur. When the hermit died, his believers dug his tomb in the rock and this cult continues to live on even nowadays.
The most famous among the numerous legends on Saint Romedio involves a bear. According to this legend, the hermit Saint Romedio, already an elderly man by the time, wanted to ride to Trento to meet the bishop. Unfortunately, his horse was ripped apart by a bear. Saint Romedio however, managed to tame the bear and rode to the city of Trento on its back.

Saint Romedio’s day is celebrated every year on 15th January with a mass in the sanctuary followed by a meal that proposes the typical dish of the pilgrim (tipico piatto del pellegrino). Every year the sanctuary is visited by more than 200.000 pilgrims. Two Franciscan monks watch over the building from where a Way of the Cross takes you to the Basilica dei SS. Martiri in Sanzeno. To those seeking a special experience we recommend to visit the wild animal park below the sanctuary where a brown bear lives.

Tip: Don't miss The path in the rocks from Sanzeno to the sanctuary.

Rock path: closed during winter (from November 25, 2024)