The 13th-century Santuario della Beata Vergine della Consolazione di Montovolo

Montovolo is a mountain of the Appennino Bolognese, part of the same complex mountainous area as Monte Vigese. It is situated within the Parco provinciale di Montovolo-Vigese, a protected area extending about 34 hectares and established in 1972. The mountain is famous for the Santuario della Santa Maria della Consolazione di Montovolo on its slopes. The Santuario was rebuilt during the 13th century by the maestri comacini, following the destruction of a church in 1240.

The sanctuary conserves part of the old construction, including the absidi, the monofores, and the capitals, along with numerous devotional frescoes from the Quattrocento. A meridian can be observed on the campanile of the Santuario. Montovolo has been a place of cult since the pagan era. Near the summit, the Oratorio di Santa Caterina di Alessandria dates back to the 13th century. It preserves Quattrocento frescoes by some painters depicting Santa Caterina, a Giudizio Universale.

Local products such as fungi and truffles can be tasted in the area. The Oratorio di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria is visitable only by reservation. The sanctuary and the surrounding area are of great historical and artistic importance, featuring a wooden statue of the Madonna di Montovolo and a crypt.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons