Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia (Santuario dell'Agostina)

Above Riccò del Golfo, the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia is also known as Santuario dell'Agostina, a name linked to a local Marian apparition tradition. The small sanctuary stands on a ridge amid the woods, with views over the valley, the Apennines and the Gulf of La Spezia.

Why it matters

The sanctuary's history is associated with Agostina Mazaschi, a peasant woman who, according to tradition, found a small image of the Madonna in the woods on 10 May 1531. The Diocese of La Spezia, Sarzana and Brugnato lists the sanctuary among its Marian shrines, recording its 1531 association and feast on Ascension Day. The national heritage catalogue identifies the building as a protected sanctuary attributed to local builders.

What to notice

The sanctuary occupies a clearing on the ridge above the village. From its square, the landscape opens across Riccò and its hamlets toward the Apennine ridges and the Gulf of La Spezia. The wooded surroundings evoke the setting of the apparition tradition and connect the building to the rural communities of the valley.

Context and history

The account of Agostina Mazaschi and the Marian image belongs to local religious tradition. The diocese records the sanctuary under the parish of Valdipino and associates its feast with Ascension Day. The state catalogue attributes the building to local building trades and records its protection by the Ligurian architectural heritage authority. It forms part of a wider network of valley sanctuaries linked to the communities and landscapes of the Gulf of Poets hinterland.