Have you ever seen Caravaggio? It’s quite a big town located in the centre of the region called Lombardy and it has a population of nearly 16,000 people. Here you can see some of the most famous churches of this town, for example the big Sanctuary, St. Liberata’s church and you can also see an important archway, called Porta Nuova gate.

If you come to Caravaggio, I suggest visiting the Sanctuary, which is near the centre of Caravaggio and it is dedicated to Our Lady of the Spring. The Sanctuary was built on the spot where the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor peasant called Giannetta de’ Vacchi on 26th May 1432. The tradition says that this woman, who was 32 years old, was married to a man, Francesco Varoli, who drank a lot and hit his wife. One day the woman went to the countryside and cried a lot and she said that she had seen the Virgin Mary, who reassured her saying that she shouldn’t be frightened. A spring of water gushed from the ground near the stone where the Virgin Mary stood. In the 16th century the Sanctuary was enlarged by the architect Pellegrino Tibaldi. Now the Sanctuary is also a pilgrimage site for sick pilgrims.

If you come to Caravaggio, I suggest visiting the Sanctuary, which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Spring

Around the Sanctuary there is a big garden with a lot of benches and a big place where children can play together and relax. There is also a big fountain where people throw coins because the legend says that if you do, you will be lucky. In front of the Sanctuary there are some stalls and if you want, you can buy some presents and also some food. For example, I suggest you taste the ring-shaped cakes, because they are delicious!