This weekend, I visited a town of about 12,500 inhabitants in the province of Vicenza, which is famous for several things—most notably its economy, which revolves around the processing of stone and marble. In fact, its marble is exported all over the world; I even learned that it is currently being used for the White House ballroom.
But as you can see from the display in the center of the square, the town is also famous for its cherries—which are quite well-known throughout Italy.
I came here partly to discover this place and to share it with you; above all, this site is home to one of the most significant Franciscan sanctuaries in Italy—the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Salute. It features a reproduction of the Grotto of Lourdes, created in 1935 by Blessed Claudio Granzotto, as well as a 600-meter-long Stations of the Cross with life-sized bronze statues. It is a truly unique place, and one that is deeply moving from a spiritual perspective.
As a first stop, I visited the parish church of Chiampo, dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Martin. Dating back to 1650, the church was later expanded—with work continuing into the 1800s—and underwent its most recent restorations in the 1900s. It features a single nave with side chapels and is a site of significant importance; it is well worth a visit if you happen to be passing through Chiampo.
As for the sanctuary, we visited the Stations of the Cross, and then—as I mentioned—we passed by the sanctuary itself. It’s a place that draws people from all over the world, especially those traveling for religious purposes.
Actually, the purpose of my visit to Chiampo was to check out a second-hand market I’d seen a while back—a place that sells all sorts of used items, from clothing and furniture to various kinds of accessories. I was mainly hoping to find some interesting books, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. That said, the prices were truly excellent—you could practically pick up a book for just one euro.
In any case, if you have the chance, do stop by this place; besides being rich in monuments and various spiritual, religious, and cultural sites to visit, there’s also an interesting little market here with many items available at low prices. I wish you all a great day—see you soon!
