Santuario di San Romedio

About the museum

The Sanctuary of San Romedio stands on a limestone spur about seventy metres high, in a wooded gorge of the Val di Non, not far from Sanzeno. According to medieval hagiographical sources, Romedio, a nobleman from Thaur in the Inn valley, chose the life of a hermit in the land of the Anauni; historical research, however, places the hermit in the decades after the year 1000. At the end of the 11th century the cult, spreading from the Prince-Bishopric of Trento as far as Austria and Bohemia, led to the founding of the sanctuary above the small cave in which the saint lived and was buried. Tradition links him to the legend of the bear that is said to have accompanied him as far as Trento.

The complex is the result of successive additions: from the oldest nucleus, with the reliquary chapel and the chapel of St Nicholas, to the chapel of St George built by the Cles family in 1487, the church of St Michael the Archangel (1514–1516) and the main church (1536), built under the patronage of the Thun family, up to the chapel of the Addolorata renewed in 1923. A flight of about 130 steps links the churches, and numerous votive offerings are displayed along it.

Between 2012 and 2016 the Autonomous Province of Trento funded major restoration works. On completion, a permanent exhibition route was set up in three rooms on the ground floor, presenting the figure of Romedio and the iconography of the sanctuary, some archaeological finds discovered at the foot of the rock, a selection of restored votive offerings and some frescoed panels. Since 1948 the sanctuary has been entrusted to the Friars Minor, and since 2005 to the Conventual Friars Minor.

Highlights

• Five churches and chapels stacked on a rocky spur
• Covered flight of about 130 steps with votive offerings
• Permanent exhibition route in three rooms on the ground floor
• Ancient church with the reliquary chapel of St Romedio
• Main church of 1536 with a Baroque wooden altar
• Brown bear enclosure at the base of the sanctuary

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso espositivo permanente su San Romedio – Three rooms on the ground floor present the figure of Romedio, the iconography of the sanctuary, archaeological finds from the foot of the rock, restored votive offerings and frescoed panels.

Founded

1000

Operated by

Frati Minori Conventuali

Visitors per year

approx. 35,000

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; voluntary donations towards maintenance are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access to the churches is via a steep flight of about 130 steps.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

At the foot of the sanctuary is the brown bear enclosure; the steep steps make a pushchair difficult to use.

Getting there & parking

On foot you reach the sanctuary from Sanzeno along a path cut into the rock, from Coredo through the lakes (about 45 minutes), or on trail 539 from Don (about an hour).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit