Spiazzi: Routes to Madonna della Corona

When looking for a hotel for a trip to Spiazzi, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: Would you like to explore the route to Madonna della Corona, learn about the history of the pilgrimage site, or choose other routes through the landscape? The routes described here differ in their course, terrain, and purpose. These differences can help you plan your time in Spiazzi.

Routes to Madonna della Corona

The footpath from Spiazzi to Madonna della Corona follows a paved road that is accessible only on foot. Fourteen bronze Stations of the Cross stand along its hairpin bends. The paved approach behind Spiazzi also features distinctive stations: it ends at a gallery carved into the rock in 1922, where an image of the Virgin Mary is displayed. At the entrance there is also a replica of the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid after his death.

Another route description refers to CAI Trail No. 73, the Sentiero della Speranza (Path of Hope). This historic path connects the valley floor with the heights of Monte Baldo and leads to the sanctuary. It is about 2.5 kilometers long and climbs steeply up the slope of Monte Cimo over rock-cut steps of varying heights. The routes described therefore differ in more than just their names: the route from Spiazzi is defined by the paved road and Stations of the Cross, while the Sentiero della Speranza is characterized by its steep slope and rock steps.

Those seeking a group walk for prayer can join “Il gruppo del sabato” (The Saturday Group). The pilgrimage group offers a shared walk every Saturday of the year, starting at 3 p.m. in Brentino, by the large chestnut tree. The group follows the old pilgrimage route, climbing about 600 meters and many steps, and reaches the sanctuary in approximately an hour and a half. Anyone can take part, even for just one Saturday. Check the exact date details before joining the walk.

Pilgrimage and history

The history of the site dates back to the Middle Ages. According to medieval documents, around the year 1000 hermits lived in the Monte Baldo area and were connected with the Abbey of San Zeno in Verona. By the second half of the 13th century at the latest, a monastery with a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of Montebaldo stood there.

The Pietà also links art history with tradition. The stone sculpture group, later venerated as Our Lady of the Corona, is said to date from the time when the Knights Hospitaller owned the site of Santa Maria di Montebaldo. The painted Pietà statue, made of local stone, is 70 centimeters high, 56 centimeters wide, and 25 centimeters deep. Its base bears the inscription “HOC OPUS FECIT FIERI LODOVICUS D CASTROBARCO D 1432”. Traditionally, it is considered evidence that Lodovico Castelbarco commissioned the statue in 1432 and donated it to the Corona.

At Ponte del Tiglio, the Via Matris Dolorosae staircase leads to the foot of the sanctuary. Seven devotional niches invite visitors to pause for reflection. The various features—from the paths and niches to the monastery, chapel, and Pietà—each give the pilgrimage site its own historical or religious significance.

Other hiking trails and scenery

Another option is Route C12. It starts at Piazza Don Luigi Vezzola and climbs uphill to the Croce area, the oldest historic center of Spiazzi. The route passes through rural mountain hamlets, vineyards, and forests in Spiazzi, Monte Croce, and Stringari. Here, the historic center and the landscape along the route are the main attractions.

The Sentiero n. 73 also passes through the rocky gorges of Val delle Pissotte. The landscape reveals a contrast between the vineyards of the Adige Valley, covered with pergola-trained vines, and the rugged terrain around the sanctuary. Another route description leads past Malga Basiana and back toward Spiazzi via Dosso della Croce. Dosso is a viewpoint overlooking the lower Adige Valley. From Spiazzi, a path also leads to the Bergola spring, considered the main water supply source for Caprino Veronese.

For a longer religious route, the Cammino dei due Santuari (Walk of the Two Sanctuaries) leads from Pieve di Chiampo to the Santuario Madonna della Corona. For the most part, it follows existing trails marked by the CAI. The route passes through beech and fir forests, mountain meadows used for grazing, and valleys with a pristine, unspoiled appearance. Along the way, visitors can see typical Cimbrian hamlets in Bosco Chiesanuova, devotional works, wayside shrines, and small chapels. This route offers another distinct approach to the sanctuary and to the region’s tradition of religious journeys.

Discover more destinations: Buttapietra, Bionde, Trevenzuolo, Bonavigo, Quinto Di Valpantena, Lavagno, Assenza, Sanguinetto

For the broader travel overview: Verona.