Four centuries of history, faith, and a close tie to the land. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Flowers in Bra is preparing to celebrate a special anniversary: 400 years have elapsed since 1626, the year from which the history of one of the city’s and the surrounding territory’s emblematic places begins.
The anniversary is an opportunity to get to know the Marian complex more intimately, thanks to its evolution and the artistic heritage it safeguards: precisely within the celebrations and on the occasion of the Novena 2026, two special guided tours are organized that will accompany visitors in discovering the most fascinating and lesser-known aspects of the Sanctuary.
The initiative is conceived as a genuine journey through time, between faith, architectural wonder and identity, a path that will allow observing the complex from an unprecedented perspective and to delve into those elements that, though part of the Sanctuary’s everyday history, may escape the attention of those who frequent it regularly or of first-time visitors.
Two exceptional visits on August 30 and September 6
The events are scheduled for two consecutive Sundays, August 30 and September 6, 2026, with a start time of 4:45 p.m.
On both occasions, the meeting point will be the forecourt of the New Sanctuary, from which the guided journey will begin: participants will be guided along an itinerary dedicated to understanding the Marian complex, its evolution and the works that constitute it.
The aim of the visits is to go beyond a mere observation of spaces: the route will offer the opportunity to dwell on the Sanctuary’s history and on the details that tell its identity, linking the artistic and architectural dimension with the spiritual one and with the deep relationship that, for four centuries, has united the community to Our Lady of the Flowers.
It is therefore an occasion addressed to both those who already know the Sanctuary and wish to deepen certain aspects, and to visitors who want to approach the history of this important place of faith for the first time. The heritage can be read at multiple levels: the historical, tied to the four centuries from 1626 to 2026; the artistic, through the works and elements that characterize the complex; and the spiritual, connected to the devotion that continues to make this place a reference point for the community.
The experience offered during the two Sundays will thus allow us to retrace the evolution of the sacred site and to better understand its richness thanks to a guided narrative.
The visits within the frame of the Novena 2026
Guided openings are among the events included in the Novena 2026 celebrations and add to the religious dimension another moment dedicated to the knowledge and sharing of the Sanctuary’s historical and artistic heritage.
The two visits on August 30 and September 6 will thus offer the public the opportunity to participate in the celebrations of this important anniversary also through a cultural path. The proposal aims to bring visitors and the community closer to the history of the Marian complex and to deepen aspects that may be less immediately evident.
To facilitate better organization of the routes and guarantee a pleasant experience, small groups are invited to pre-register their attendance at the desk for religious objects.
