località Sassella, Sanctuary of Madonna della Sassella

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Sassella stands on a rocky spur in the Rhætian Alps and facing the gates of Sondrio; it is immediately visible upon entering the town from Milan. The Sanctuary is surrounded by vineyard terraces supported by dry stone walls where the wine Valtelina Superiore DOCG – a controlled and guaranteed origin wine known as Sassella - comes from.
Built originally in the 1400’s and enlarged at the end of the seventeenth century with the addition of a portico. The sanctuary offers visitors many points of interest such as: the white marble lunettes of the portal with a nativity scene in high relief attributed to the Rodari brothers; frescos depicting scenes from the life of Mary by the painter Andrea De Passeris (1511) found at the base of the apse.
The removal of the altar piece depicting the ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ by Vicenzo De Barberis (1534), today preserved in the church of Beata Vergine del Rosario in Sondrio (Largo Stella), has highlighted the central Annunciation scene.
To the right of the apse there is a small multicoloured stained glass window depicting a nativity scene, which is a rare example in Valtellina of stained glass art work.