Dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola and situated on the summit of Mount Bastia, the sanctuary dominates the Lanzo Valleys with a spectacular view. Born as a chapel in the seventeenth century and expanded by the Jesuits to welcome pilgrims, it has been a central place of devotion and spirituality for centuries.
Site overview
The Sanctuary is dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola and is situated at 931 meters above sea level. It is built on the summit of Mount Bastia, in the municipality of Pessinetto. It is the largest and best-known of the Lanzo Valleys, located in a panoramic position. The original Chapel dates back to 1629 and its foundation is linked to the fame that Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, acquired in the territory of the Lanzo Valleys. In 1727, the Jesuits replaced the Chapel with a larger Church to welcome all pilgrims. For this purpose, the local inhabitants in 1673 donated the peak of Mount Bastia to the Jesuits, and thus a large Greek-cross church was built, at the end of which one can still see today the peak of the mountain rising for almost five meters. After the dissolution of the Society of Jesus, which occurred in 1773, the building passed to the Savoy state property, which ceded it to the Archdiocese of Turin in 1789. Since then, in addition to the popular devotion of the inhabitants of the area, the sanctuary has been mainly intended as a house for spiritual exercises, addressed in particular to the Turin clergy. The feast of the Sanctuary takes place on July 31st.
How to visit the site
From the center of Pessinetto, follow the signs of Provincial Road 30 for Sant'Ignazio.
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