We invite you to collaborate in this initiative: Vote for the sanctuary of the “Madonna” as a place of the heart:
Nestled among the hills and vineyards of the Langhe – Roero and Monferrato regions of Piedmont, a UNESCO heritage site since 2014 (50th!), the church of “Nostra Signora delle Grazie” has seen the alternation of various Franciscan congregations: the Minor Amadeiti, then the Minori Osservanti, called Zoccolanti, subsequently the Minori Riformati, and finally the Capuchin friars until 1858. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, still present, entered the convent complex in 1878. Since 1927, the church has taken the title of Sanctuary and has been aggregated and incorporated into the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, thus participating in its apostolic indulgences. In 2024, it was designated a Jubilee Church by the Bishop of the Diocese of Acqui, Monsignor Luigi Testore. It can thus be an oasis of spirituality, to strengthen the journey of faith and open the heart to hope, first of all by approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A Marian place par excellence, much loved by the people of Nice, who call it “the Madonna”, by the Salesian Family of Don Bosco from all over the world, and by the numerous pilgrims, young and old, who come to visit the place of prayer and art. The Sanctuary and the convent structure have very ancient origins. According to the Statutes of Nizza Monferrato, it seems to have been present since the 13th century. Their history has always been intertwined with that of the city, which over the centuries has been the scene of wars with allies or invaders: French, Spanish, Austrians and Germans. The destination and function of the different environments are constantly changing. With the suppression of the religious Congregations, in 1859 the Municipality purchased the church and convent with the prospect of transforming them into a hospital or military quarter or cemetery. But nothing came of it. In 1871 the buildings, sold to the Savigliano Wine Society, were used as a wine cellar. When the company went bankrupt, Count Cesare Balbo, whose grandfather, after whom he was named, was a Piedmontese politician and historian, invited Don Giovanni Bosco, founder of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, to buy the properties. The Saint, seeing the degradation of the church and the neglect of the entire convent area, surrounded by a large green area and a hill, did not hesitate to buy it in 1877. He moved the nuns of the Institute he founded on 5 August 1872 in Mornese AL there. The first arrived in September 1878, and Mother Mazzarello, the co-founder, on 4 February 1879. They were entrusted with the education of the girls. The complex, after long and expensive restoration work, became the Mother House of the Congregation and General House until 1929 (it was later transferred to Turin until 1969 and from there, until today, to Rome). The Sanctuary is also once again a center of intense spirituality. Over the years, the former Franciscan site was transformed into a large school structure, including a school from nursery to high school, professional courses, an oratory, playing fields and a gym. Thus, in the large courtyard in front of the Sanctuary, young students at recreation and groups in prayer would meet. The Sanctuary marked the life of the nascent Institute. It opened its doors to generations of young people, to new female vocations, to people from every social class seeking the help of God and the Madonna. There has been no shortage of testimonies of graces and miracles. Every year pilgrimages arrive from all over the world, to rediscover the origins of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello and their educational mission. However, the Sanctuary is affected by its centuries of history and requires restoration and compliance. When you walk along the long Viale Don Bosco, an enchanted gallery of tree branches, your heart feels the joy of being at home: Our Lady of Graces always awaits… even friends and benefactors. Voting for this site is giving voice to the past, the root of Nice and Monferrato’s religious and social traditions. It is ensuring a place for the future where hope can be found.