The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Voghera is one of the oldest churches in the town, known for its late Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It is part of a historic monastic complex run by the Franciscan Fathers.
The origins of the place of worship date back to the 12th century. The first documentary mention of a religious building in this area is found in an act of 1153, by which Pope Anastasius IV confirmed the dependence of a monastery of Benedictine monks on the Abbey of San Marziano in Tortona. This primitive Benedictine settlement underwent several changes over the centuries. In 1410, the monastery came under the management of the Friars Preachers, commonly known as Dominicans, who took care of its spiritual and material management for almost four centuries.
A major transformation of the building took place in 1492, when the monastery underwent significant building work, with a probable renovation that culminated in the rededication of the sanctuary in 1511, dedicating it to St. Mary of the Rosary. During this period, the church maintained an important role in the life of the town of Voghera and hosted, in 1518, the young Antonio Ghislieri, the future Pope Pius V, who later became a saint.
However, with the arrival of the Napoleonic era at the beginning of the 19th century, the stability and integrity of the sanctuary was put to the test. In 1805, under Napoleonic rule, the monastery was suppressed and the church property expropriated. The building passed to the town of Voghera and underwent various uses: it was used as a dwelling, stable, military warehouse and only occasionally reopened for worship. After a long period of decline, the church was finally reopened to the public in 1858.
Two years later, in 1860, the Franciscan Fathers returned to run the sanctuary, bringing some stability and spirituality back to the complex. In those years, as reported by historian Maragliano, the church was characterised by numerous paintings of the Passion of Christ hanging from the pillars, around which the faithful gathered for the recitation of the Rosary.
In 1870, the monastery complex changed its use again: part of it was used for military purposes, while a portion of the convent became a kindergarten, accommodating as many as 220 children in 1871. It was not until 1926 that the Franciscans managed to regain complete control of the convent, which was restored and finally returned to worship the following year, on 1 July 1927, with a solemn dedication ceremony to Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a perfect example of late Gothic architecture with Renaissance influences. The church is built entirely of exposed brick, a typical feature of Lombard buildings of the period, and has no external plaster. This choice gives the building an austere yet elegant appearance, in harmony with the monastic tradition.
The church façade, visible from the street, is divided into two main parts: an upper and a lower one. In the upper part, decorated with pilasters and brickwork motifs, there are low arched windows that give an elegant symmetry to the entire façade. The lower part is characterised by a clerestory formed by double lancet windows, whose small columns are also made of brick, a material widely used in medieval Lombard architecture.
Inside, the church has a single nave structure, divided into seven bays by transverse ogival arches. Along the sides of the nave, there is a series of chapels, accessible through round arches supported by sturdy pillars with a square base. These side chapels are connected by openings that were made during a recent restoration, giving the interior greater spatial coherence and visual continuity.
In conclusion, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie is not only an important historical building, but a symbol of the community‘s resilience and ability to preserve its cultural and spiritual heritage, going through centuries of political and social change, without ever losing its sacred essence and deep connection with the faith.
