The facade in Gothic style was realized in 1892 on a design by the architect Luigi Rovelli and it came to replace the Baroque one by Lagomaggiore. It was completely restored and brought back to its original splendor in 1993 by the architect Giorgio Gnudi.

The inside is a single nave with four side altars. The main altar was realized by Rovelli who, however, did not want to modify the chapel of Lagomaggiore because of the beauty of its design and the preciousness of its marbles.The restoration of 1990 through the work of the architect Gnudi saw to adapting the new liturgical provision to the main altar and covering the walls in marble. It's also made it possible to recover a part of the fisrt altar.The paintings of the corbels representing Ester and judith as well as the bansin of the apse with The Apparition are work of Nicoḷ Barabino of Genoa.
 

 The organ is found over the main door. It was built by the Inzoli company of Crema and inaugurated in 1907 on the occasion of the seventh period of fifty years following the Apparition.

The six stained glass windows realized, thanks to the offerings of benefactors, by the Abrati company were inaugurated on January 22, 1938 and represent the same number of Mary's attributes. The invocations can be read there: Causa nostrae laetitiae, Ave Maris Stella, Mater Parissima, Regina Pacis, Regina Sacratissima Rosarii, Regina Martirium.
 

The Apparition on july 2,1557:
On july 2, 1557 the Most Holy Virgin appeared on the hill of "Allegrezza" to the farmer Giovanni Chichizola of Canevale making this request and indicating a small icon laying on a rock: "Do not fear,John! I am the Mother of God. I have chosen you to be a messenger of my motherly will. Go to the ecclesiastics of Rapallo and let them know that the Mother of God has chosen this place as Her perpetual dwelling place and would like a church to be erected here"
 

The following morning the icon had disappeared. Some people having gone up to the place of the apparition to get some water from the spring wicth had appeared at the point where the Lady has rested her feet, reported, on their return to the village , that the sacred images on the rock.

The curate went back up the mountain and bought the icon back to Rapallo in a solemn procession. Having been displayed all day in church, the image was locked in a chest for the night. The following morning it was again found on Montallegro and the people became convinced that there it had to stay.
Entering the sacristy, just as in the penitentiary, we are immediately struck by the great quantity of votive offerings that give testimony to the believers who continuosly turn to the Virgin: from hearts to canvases, from miniature silver limbs to honors earned in battle. On the left side of the Basilica we find the Chapel of St. Joseph where, on the right, is found the "little fountain of Our Lady" with water that still today flows from the spring originating in the rock. Also in this chapel a great number of votive offerings are dispayed. Going out the Sanctuary and along the path toward the "Pilgrim's House" we find the chapel of the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, bronze panels realized by the sculptor Italo Primi of Rapallo.
 

1557 il Capitano di  Ragusa

1657 Rapallo  si salṿ dalla peste

In 1574 a Greek ship coming from Ragusa (the present Dubrovnik in Croatia) ran into a storm while crossing the "Golfo del Tigullio" and its captain, Nicholas de Allegretis, together with the crew promised the Mother of God that if they were saved, they would make a pilgrimage to the nearest Sanctuary dedicated to Her. On reaching land they climbed the mountain to fulfill their vow oh Thanksgiving. Having seen the icon, they explained that it had disapperared mysteriously about 17 years earlier from their city.The Magistrate of Genoa, called to resolve the situation, established that the image would have to be returned to the city of Ragusa thought the captain Allegretis. The icon was then trasporteded to the port, boarded onto the ship and put in a secure place.The ship hadn't yet reached the peninsula of Portofino when the Sacred Image had again disappeared and had reappeared on the mountain.

Even the captain and his crew were conviced the icon had to remain on the hill of "Allegrezza".
( Genova,  26 dicembre 1574.)

Tra le targhe d'argento alcune furono offerte dalla Comunità di Rapallo nel  1657, 1747, 1836.

Every year there is a enchanting procession from the ways of Rapallo to the mounting with the ancient wood Christs and a Silver Ark with Mother of God's Statue.

From Apparition's Day, faith and devoction to God's Mother is great in people of Rapallo and "Rapallini" all over the world. In the century they have always been proteced by the Virgin and they hand down the custom, to thank Her, the "Morning's Novena": from 23 June, for 9 morning, they walk along the mule track. They go at 2,30 a.m. for Rosary, Mass and Prayer. All year the Virgin listens to Her sons. I go to the "Morning Novena" from 4 years old ( now I'm 50) and I've see many miracles. If someone want to try I'll be happy to guide you ( nadiamolinaris@libero.it )also only for a morning. The return to Rapallo is at 6 a.m. and, in this hour, from the mounting, you can listen only to your heart ...

1557 - 2007
450 ANNI dalla APPARIZIONE

Thanks to the Mother of God for all Miracles and to the Sanctuary for the material and photos. (n.a.m.) www.santuariomontallegro.com

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