Madonna della Costa, prote ctor of the people in Sanremo

One of the most loved places by the people of Sanrem o is the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Costa, known by all just as Madonna della Costa. Perched on the hill overlooking the City of Flowers, this place of devotion, according to legend, was erected in 1361 to celebrate the liberation from the feudal restrictions of the Doria family . What was remembered as the “ fe ast of chains ” was born on tha t occasion, a procession that citizens carried out by dragging chains to the Sanctuary, in honour of the ir regained freedom. Th ough current Baroque structure, with a Latin cross plan, dates to 1630 while the dome, decorated inside with wonderful frescoes, was built between 1770 and 1775. radition has it that the reconstruction of the Sanctuary is owed to a sailor who wanted to thank the Madonna for having saved him from the pirates and for the miraculous discovery of a casket that allowed him to find the n ecessary resources, already partly obtained thanks to a collection to which the inhabitants participated with great generosity.

Always a point of reference for sailors, the devotion to the Madonna della Costa intensified even more after the cholera epidemic that the city miraculously managed to escape in 1835 . The presence of innumerable votive offerings dedicated to the Madonna underline the religious importance for devotees who ask for protection from illnesses , calamities and tragic events.

The Sanctuary, celebrated on 15 th August 15th, is easy to reach on foot through one of the most suggestive neighbourhood s in Sanremo, La Pigna, the old city that winds through enchanting views and typical streets called carruggi ending at the top of the hill, offering visitor s a breath taking view.
Giulia Dalla Verde