The Sanctuary of Montevergine stands in the heart of Irpinia. At an altitude of 1,263 metres, it overlooks the valley of the Sabato river. It is a place of deep spirituality and has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries.

The history of Montevergine is closely linked to Guglielmo da Vercelli, who founded and built it with his own hands in 1124, nine hundred years ago. Guglielmo was responsible for the construction of a church dedicated to the worship of the Madonna, which remains a pilgrimage site to this day, and for the foundation of the Verginian congregation.

The Abbey of Montevergine can be reached on foot (from Mercogliano or Ospedaletto, via the devotional path known as the Juta, which coincides with the Cammino di Guglielmo). A drivable road, with numerous narrow hairpin bends, connects the abbey with the Avellino Ovest motorway exit on the A3 Napoli-Bari.

We recommend ascending via the charming funicular railway, built in 1926 and inaugurated in 1956. Covering a distance of only 1,670 metres, it overcomes a height difference of 734 metres, with a gradient varying between 43 and 63 degrees. Departing from the centre of Mercogliano, it reaches the abbey in just 7 minutes, passing through chestnut woods and limestone outcrops, offering magnificent panoramic views over the valley and the Abbey of Loreto.

Connection with Saint Guglielmo and his miracles

From the Legenda della vita del Santo, we learn that the young Guglielmo, after arriving in Irpinia and stopping near Atripalda (Av), climbed the mountain above Mercogliano (Av) in 1118, choosing it as the ideal place to lead a solitary life and to create a refuge of peace and spirituality. There, near a spring and the ruins of a temple dedicated to the pagan goddess Cybele, Guglielmo built a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was near this chapel that Saint Guglielmo made his home.

Soon, his fame spread throughout the area, and many came to visit the holy hermit. Around him, on the Monte della Vergine, a community of God-seekers formed, to whom Guglielmo gave a Rule of life inspired by the Regula monasteriorum of Saint Benedict. The Congregation of the Monks of Montevergine quickly spread throughout southern Italy. Thus was born the largest and most important Marian sanctuary in southern Italy, where the Madonna di Montevergine, also known as Mamma Schiavona, is still venerated.

Montevergine is mentioned several times in the Legenda, which also recounts a number of miracles. These include the following episodes, as recorded in Episodes from the Life of Saint Guglielmo by Giovanni Mongelli O.S.B.: The bear that muddies the water, Construction of the first church, The episode of the Ligurian Gualtiero, The legend of the doves, The healing of a mute woman, and—certainly the most famous episode—The legend of the wolf and the little donkey.