By bike to the Madonna della Stella: story of a rediscovered road
Franciacortino passa da qui!
Summary
Franciacortino, the cycle tourism itinerary in the heart of Franciacorta stops at one of the most important places of worship in our territory: the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella. Located at 400 meters above sea level on Monte Selva, it officially stands in the municipality of Cellatica, right on the border with Gussago and Concesio. It was precisely the communities of these three towns that cooperated closely for its construction, erected between 1537 and 1539 after the legendary appearance of the Virgin.
In my initial project, the route reached the sanctuary by proceeding from via Forcella, in the territory of Gussago, and then returned by the same road. However, a fortuitous meeting with a resident of Cellatica allowed me to discover a new alternative route that I will describe in the continuation of the article.
The card:
From the locality “Fantasina” to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella
The fifth sector of the itinerary develops entirely within the municipality of Cellatica, from the locality of Fantasina up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella, and holds the first true “KOM” (King of the Mountains) of the route.
Starting from Via dei Prati, we turn left at the Stop sign onto Via Venticinque Aprile. After about a kilometer, a large roundabout offers us a spectacular view: looking up, the Sanctuary already stands majestically atop Mount Selva. We take the first exit onto Via Attico and begin the climb. One hundred meters further on, we keep right onto Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, and then right again onto Via Manzoni.
In the heart of Cellatica's residential area, a real twist awaits us: turning left, we take Via Cantone, a narrow alley between ancient stone walls with a unique charm. Welcoming us is a votive shrine of Saint Roch, the patron saint against epidemics. His presence suggests that this street was the ancient entrance to the village, where statues were placed precisely to protect the settlement.
After crossing the historic center along Via Marconi and passing the Parish Church, we leave the town to overlook the green expanse of the Brescia Hills Park. Here we can catch our breath for a moment, enjoy the panorama to our right, and take advantage of the only, short descent in this section. Two quick left turns and we are at the foot of Via Campiani: the toughest climb of the itinerary, with gradients reaching 19%. Having completed this intense kilometer, we turn left onto Via Stella, where the effort is rewarded with a splendid panoramic view of Gussago, Rodengo Saiano, Monticelli, and Ome.
The real ascent is almost over. The asphalt gives way to a light gravel path, perfectly traversable even on a road bike. The final stretch runs along a charming tree-lined avenue which, after a very short descent, offers us the last few pedaling strokes towards the summit. The sight of the imposing bell tower confirms that the endeavor is complete: we are on Mount Selva.
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The apparition of the Virgin and the reason for the name Stella
In the heart of Franciacorta, at an altitude of 400 meters on the summit of Monte Selva, stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella. This place of worship, located in Cellatica on the border with Gussago and Concesio, is a symbol of cooperation: it was precisely the rulers and communities of these three territories who collaborated closely for its construction, which began in 1537 and completed in 1539.
The origins of the Sanctuary are rooted in a captivating story documented by Monsignor Giuseppe Pinchetti San Marchi in 1910. The legend narrates that on May 31, 1536, Antonio de Antoni, a deaf-mute shepherd from Gardone Val Trompia, was grazing the flock of Bonomo Bonomi fu Gasparino, a landowner from San Vigilio, on the mountain. Suddenly, in the brilliance of a star, the Madonna appeared to him. The Virgin asked him to announce the miracle and the request to build a sanctuary to the rulers of the three bordering territories. Faced with the shepherd's fear of not being believed due to his condition, the Madonna comforted him, urging him to fulfill the command and assuring him that she would convince the unbelievers through miracles and graces. The sign was not long in coming. When the rulers of the three communities ascended Monte Selva to verify the story, they found themselves facing an extraordinary event: on the ground, there was the perfect outline of a foundation plan, and right in the center, a splendid lily bloomed, illuminated by a star suspended above it. This was the definitive confirmation that initiated the construction work the following year, handing down to history a sanctuary that still dominates and protects the Franciacorta landscape today.
After the completion of the structure in 1539, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella was enriched over the centuries with extraordinary art treasures. The 16th century saw the arrival of its most precious work: the magnificent altarpiece of the Madonna with Child, a masterpiece by the Renaissance painter Girolamo Romanino. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the temple was further embellished by the imposing Baroque high altar, enriched with sculptures from the celebrated workshop of the Calegari. In the twentieth century, the history of the Sanctuary is closely intertwined with the figure of Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini). This place in the Franciacorta hills was indeed deeply dear to the Pontiff, who visited it since childhood with his family, linking his spiritual growth to the devotion to the Madonna della Stella.
In memory of this deep connection, on September 26, 1982, during his historic pastoral visit to Brescia, Pope John Paul II climbed the hill to bless the large bronze statue dedicated to Paul VI, a work by the sculptor Luciano Minguzzi, still visible in the panoramic square. In the 1970s, the Sanctuary experienced a profound rebirth and important restorations thanks to the rector Don Faustino Negrini, a period in which it also became a renowned spiritual and prayer reference point. Today, the Sanctuary continues to be a reference point for many faithful under the legal form of a Rectory.
Sources and bibliographic references:
Historical documentation and updates available on the official website: www.santuariomadonnadellastella.it.
Association Friends of the Sanctuary Madonna della Stella, The Sanctuary Madonna della Stella, Editrice La Rosa, 1994.
Founder of Franciacortino
I explore Franciacorta by bike, pedaling slowly through stories, roads, and details.
