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On the trail of the most important ethnographic findings and testimonies in the province of La Spezia, our itinerary could not fail to stop at the Sanctuary of Montenero in Riomaggiore. There are at least two reasons why this place is essential in a search for the traditions and culture of our ancestors. Firstly, this sanctuary is certainly not unique in Liguria, but it is very special in terms of its beauty and position, and it shows how strong, important and deeply rooted popular devotion was in people's lives. Because of this strong faith, this sanctuary has been a place of pilgrimage and intense prayer for many centuries. The second is more specific, and concerns devotional handicrafts, i.e. that particular sector of handicrafts that produces objects in some way related to faith and worship. In the specific case of this sanctuary, the production of votive offerings has been very considerable over the centuries. Obviously there are many types of ex-votos, and although they are generally handmade, not all of them, in terms of workmanship and value, can be considered works of quality craftsmanship. But this is not the case with the golds of this Sanctuary. Produced over the centuries to thank the Virgin for the graces received, for a long time this extraordinary collection of ex-voto gold objects of exquisite workmanship and high value was jealously guarded by the faithful. It is only recently that the gold has been reunited and is kept in a safe place in the village. Occasionally, on special festivals, this remarkable collection of valuables is exhibited at the sanctuary itself. The preserved specimens are of a different nature. There are many shapes and forms, but earrings are certainly the most commonly produced model, followed by crosses, especially the characteristic 'holy spirit crosses'. The goldsmiths' workshops are all local, and in the mid-19th century there were seven goldsmiths in the La Spezia area who were able to work both with chisels and burins and with filigree, a more typically Genoese technique. Therefore, the gold of the Sanctuary is not always visible there, but what can always be perceived is the charm that this place exudes. Its position overlooking the Cinque Terre, the extraordinary view of the sea, the silence and peace, make us understand, even today, why our ancestors chose it as a place of faith and devotion.

La Spezia

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