Madonna dell’Olmo Sanctuary

The mount of Santa Croce, in the western part of the Gulf and above the district of Fabiano Alto, hosts the Santuario della Madonna dell’Olmo, symbol of devotion for the whole city of La Spezia since the early 17th century. The sanctuary today owes its name to the existing elm trees (olmo, in Italian), typical of the Mediterranean vegetation where the temple is immersed.

The church was built by the will of all Fabiano Alto people who for years dedicated themselves to this construction project as best as they could until the building was finally ready in 1844. Today’s church is the result of the 19th-century renovation and expansion works, coordinated by Nicola Svanascini, civil engineer who later fought in the First Italian War of Independence. 

This single-aisle Sanctuary today is home to a baroque altar, at the center of which there is a representation of Our Lady.
This peaceful and silent place seems perfect for those who look for a meditation space, made even more evocative by the view on the Gulf of La Spezia, the Apuan Alps, Versilia and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine.

In memory of the last consecration, a plaque was placed on the façade and it says
“This sacred church dedicated to Madonna dell’Olmo, located in this place for miracles and renowned for the devotion of the poor peasants living in this land, took its final shape and was completed in 1844”.