Chiampo: Sanctuary, Via Crucis and Craft Traditions

Chiampo brings together religious sites, historic artworks and craft traditions. The main attractions are the Grotta di Lourdes, the Pieve di Chiampo and the Via Crucis. The town is also associated with Villa Chiericati and the traditional production of leather, red marble and woodwork.

Grotta di Lourdes and Pieve di Chiampo

The Grotta di Lourdes in Chiampo was inaugurated on 29 September 1935. It is a true-to-scale 1:1 replica of the grotto in Lourdes, France. The tomb of Blessed Claudio is located at the foot of the Grotta di Lourdes. The grotto area and the tomb can therefore be viewed within the sanctuary as interconnected stations.

The Pieve di Chiampo originated as an old chapel before the year 1000. It houses a painted marble statue of the Madonna and Child dating from 1480. The Pieve also contains a Baroque altar from 1743. In this way, the Pieve brings together its pre-1000 foundation with furnishings from 1480 and 1743.

The Franciscan sanctuary of the Pieve di Chiampo has a place for prayer and confession. The sanctuary complex also includes the Museo Francescano “P. Aurelio Menin”. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 11:30 and from 15:00 to 17:30. These two daily time slots provide a morning or afternoon framework for visiting the museum. The combination of prayer, confession and the museum allows for a visit with both a religious and cultural focus.

Via Crucis through the botanical park

The Way of the Cross, the Via Crucis at the Sanctuary of Chiampo, was inaugurated in 1989. The route covers 560 metres through a botanical park of approximately 18,000 square metres with more than 700 plant species. For planning the day, the route length provides a concrete guideline; the Via Crucis can be scheduled as a separate activity within the sanctuary. At the same time, the botanical park remains part of the route, so the stations and plant collections form a shared section of the visit.

Further aspects of Chiampo

At the sanctuary complex in Chiampo, the new church dedicated to Blessed Claudio features a 400-square-metre presbytery mosaic by Padre Marko Rupnik. Chiampo is also associated with Villa Chiericati, an elegant Renaissance villa. The local profile also includes the traditional production of leather, red marble and woodwork. This gives culture enthusiasts different perspectives: sacred art at the sanctuary, Renaissance architecture at the villa and material traditions in local crafts.

Starting point for the tourist itinerary

The tourist itinerary through Chiampo begins at the car park by the Chiampo cycle path. This starting point provides a clear initial orientation for personal planning. From there, the town’s religious sites and other cultural themes can be considered as separate areas of focus.

Other destinations in the same travel region

Schio, Vicenza, Lonigo, Lovolo, Piovene Rocchette, Lovertino, Marano Vicentino and San Germano Dei Berici

Back to the overarching travel overview: Vicenza.