Surrounded by dense vegetation and at a height of over 600 meters above the sea level it rises the sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Ambro. We are a montefortino, a small village on the slopes of the Sibillini mountains in the Marche region. Dedicated to the Madonna dell'Ambro, it takes its name from the stream of the same name, the Sanctuary houses inside delightful frescoes and paintings, twelve of those depicting the Sibyls.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna and the 2016 earthquake
Unfortunately, the recent history of the beautiful and characteristic church suffered a severe blow when one of the strong earthquakes that hit central Italy in 2016 literally breached its walls, was declared uninhabitable and consequently closed to the public.
Thanks to the constancy of the inhabitants of the nearby villages and the tenacity of the municipality of Montefortino, it was reopened just two years after the disastrous earthquake. The faithful were thus able to celebrate Holy Mass on the night of December 24, 2018.
The sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Ambro and the apparition of Mary
Given the peculiarity of the event and the notoriety of the Sanctuary, the news had national resonance, even the RAI news program dedicated a few minutes to it. Little Lourdes, as the faithful call it because of the numerous coincidences. The vicissitudes that unite the sanctuary and the much more famous church across the Alps are truly impressive.
As happened for the French "cousin", the very Italian Church of the Madonna dell'Ambro was also built to celebrate the apparition of Mary. It was the eleventh century when the Madonna appeared to a dumb young shepherdess. Both buildings are located in the Apennines, and both churches are very close to a river. The church today more than ever a symbol of the rebirth of places brought to their knees by numerous earthquakes, is the destination of many pilgrims.
The Sibillini mountains
A beautiful mountain range between Umbria and Marche. Four municipalities compete for its territory, which offers one of the best preserved and protected wooded areas in all of Italy. Thanks to the Sibillini National Park, the area is well monitored and the beautiful gorges of the valley floor are still intact today. The various rivers and streams that mark its face are buried, giving life to breathtaking caves and gorges. One above all the Gola dell'Infernaccio, absolutely worth seeing.
Le Marche
The only Italian region with a plural name. Beautiful, indeed beautiful. The hills of the Marche, which are dressed in bright colors, ranging from yellow to orange, during the flowering period of sunflowers and poppies manage to snatch a smile from anyone. The beauty of the region is not the only reason for its fame.
Le Marche in fact they seem to have been blessed by a sort of magic, some of the most famous Italian painters and writers and characters of literature were born in the beautiful region of central Italy. We are talking about the likes of Raffaello Sanzio, Giacomo Leopardi Maria Montessori and Gioachino Rossini.
(Photo Facebook Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Ambro / Montefortino)
