Madonna del Ghisallo

In medieval times, Count Ghisallo was attacked by bandits close to the village of Magréglio near Lake Como, but saw an image of the Virgin Mary, in a shrine; where he hid, and was saved. The Madonna del Ghisallo became the patron of local travellers, and in modern times, cyclists would pray at the shrine.

After the second world war, the local priest proposed Madonna del Ghisallo as the patron saint of cyclists, and Pope Pius XII agreed.

Now the chapel is both a religious shrine, and cycling museum, with an eternal flame in memory of cyclists who have died.

From the Patron Saints Index and Wikipedia. And there is an evocative trip report here.


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