Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montelungo

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montelungo is located in the parish of the hamlet of Ruino and is part of the Diocese of Piacenza - Bobbio.

It stands on the extended back of a hill. Among the Marian sanctuaries in Italy, that of Montelungo is certainly one of the oldest. In the year 774 the emperor Charlemagne donated the site of Montelungo to the Monastery of San Colombano, founded in Bobbio in 614. This donation was later confirmed by other emperors in the years 865, 895 and 903 and up until 930 we find documents that confirm the continuous ownership of this monastery.

According to local tradition, the origin of this church dates back to the miracle according to which the Virgin Mary healed a poor deaf-mute woman from Logagnolo. The healed young woman was then given the duty to promote the construction of a new sanctuary where the Madonna would have performed many miracles. Of the old church, only the ancient fresco with the Madonna breastfeeding the child remains, which is still displayed on the high altar and worshipped by the faithful.

In 1929, after determining that the church had become unsafe and unstable, the bishop of Bobbio Pellegrino proposed the construction of the new church on a safer hill, not far from the original one. The works on the new church ended in 1942 and the temple was consecrated. On the site of the old church, a small chapel was erected in memory of the miraculous events that occurred there, built in 1963. The sanctuary is structured with three naves and has two side chapels. Inside, the main altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Montelungo.