Sanctuary Madonna della Rosa

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rose – located a short distance from the center of Ostra, in a valley surrounded by fertile hills, there existed in time immemorial, a shrine in which an image of the Virgin was venerated, painted on a rough wall, at the foot of which flowed a stream of clear water. From the vague flower that the Blessed Virgin holds in her left hand, the faithful began to invoke her with the sweet title of “Madonna della Rosa”.

In 1666, from the devoted hand of a pious girl, a very white lily was placed before the Holy Image, on a day in May, as a sign of filial love. The Flower, to everyone’s great wonder, remained for months and months, fresh and fragrant as if freshly cut from the plant; from then on, immense crowds of faithful flocked to the feet of the Holy Virgin and miracles repeated and multiplied. News of the miraculous event, followed by a series of healings, confirmed by witnesses, led to the construction of a first chapel, which was inaugurated about two years later and which is still preserved inside the Sanctuary today. The waters of the stream, the instrument of so many wonders, were then collected in a small well at the foot of Mary’s altar, and even today, as then, the faithful are surprised by the fact that the volume of water always remains at a level of 80 cm, whether in summer or winter, whatever quantity is drawn from it. The fame of the miracles performed by the Madonna della Rosa reached as far as the Papal Throne, and the Most Reverend Vatican Chapter, in 1726, granted the miraculous Image the honour of the solemn Coronation, and the Chapel the title of Sanctuary. Soon, as the influx of faithful increased, the small church also proved insufficient, so the idea of building a larger one arose. The unanimous and ardent desire quickly became reality and in 1748 the foundations were laid and, six years later, the large and majestic temple was completed. The Sanctuary is built in the shape of a Greek cross, in Corinthian style, divided into three naves and, similar to that of Loreto, encloses the Chapel of the Madonna. Finally, between 1887 and 1891, based on a design by Count Francesco Vespasiani, Architect of the Vatican Exhibition in Rome, he was able to build the artistic bell tower and the harmonious and monumental façade. The Sanctuary is the second diocesan sanctuary in the Marche region, a destination for numerous pilgrimages: inside it houses a collection of 49 votive tablets, which constitute a precious testimony of faith and minor art. Among the numerous ex-votos there are also two very rare Turkish flags.