This amazing Italian church sits 2,539ft (774 metres) above sea level and is built into the side of a cliff. The history of Santuario Madonna della Corona dates back over 1,000 years, the site originally being a hermitage where monks linked to the Abbey of St Zeno in Verona would travel to for silent contemplation. According to the church's website, by the second half of the 13th century, there was a monastery on the site with a chapel dedicated to St Mary of Montebaldo. In 1625 an even bigger church was built 13ft above the existing building and in 1899 the current Gothic facade was added. Today, pilgrims can reach Santuario Madonna della Corona by either following a two-hour hiking path from the town of Brentino or they can drive to the town of Spiazzi and walk up the one-kilometre road to the church.

Source: Daily Mail September 01, 2021 09:33 UTC