The statue of the Black Madonna
The Black Madonna, carved in Pinus Cembra (Swiss pinewood) in the 13th century, is the heart of the shrine, which for centuries has welcomed pilgrims from all over the world. In 1599, as a gesture of gratitude made by the people from Biella who survived the plague, the Ancient Basilica was built. On August 30, 1620 the first coronation of the statue took place and thousands of pilgrims reached Oropa to attend the event. The gesture of the coronation has been renewed every century: in 1720, in 1820, just out of the hard Napoleonic age, until 1920, when, after the Great War, in one of the most difficult moments in Italian history, over 150 thousand people took part to the event. In 2020, on Sunday 30 August will take place the 5th centenary Coronation of the Madonna
Two orders golden tiara (1620/1720) by Bertol(l)ero jeweler Turin. Motta and Meda goldsmiths.Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
The crowns of 1620 and 1720
In 1620 a double gold crown with gems was applied to the wooden crown of the Statue, while a smaller one was made for the Child. In 1720 the crowns were used to make the new ornament for the second coronation.
The two-tiered tiara for the coronation of 1720 was made on a project by the architect Juvarra
Halo with twelve stars (1800/2000) by goldsmiths of TurinSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
A gold halo with 12 stars was then added to the statue
The crown of the Child
During the visit to Oropa of the king Vittorio Emanuele I and his wife Maria Teresa of Austria on 1 August 1820, the king donated a crown for the Child, while the queen offered the crown for the coronation of the Virgin.
Crown (1820) by Master goldsmith silversmith Giuseppe Felice Borrani.Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
Crown donated by Maria Teresa of Austria for the third Coronation of 1820
Diadem (1800) by Manufacture of Italy (?)Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
Diadem (beginning of the XIX C. )
Two orders of crown (1920) by Brothers Bertarelli, Milan.Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
The crown of 1920
The crown placed on the head of the black Madonna on the last Sunday of August 1920, on the occasion of the IV Coronation, will be replaced on 30 August 2020 after a hundred years
The crown was made by the firm Fratelli Bertarelli from Milano in 1920
The jewels of the coronations
In addition to the crowns, there are numerous jewels that have adorned the statue of the Madonna of Oropa on the occasion of the Centenary Coronations: the love knot, the pendants and the golden bib necklace
Bib (1758) by Giovanni Amedeo Tempia jeweler, Benedetto Giacomino goldsmiths.Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
Bow (1817) by Goldsmithing of PiedmontSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
The bow made of silver, gold and diamonds was donated in 1852 by Princess Maria Teresa of Tuscany and is called the love knot, as it was the first gift received from her husband Carlo Alberto of Savoy
Golden PendantSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
Pendant in gold and diamonds made in Germany in the 17th C. St. Anna and St. Joachim hold baby Mary. This jewel was donated by Christine of France, wife of Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy (before 1638).
Locket (1800) by Goldsmithing of Italy (?)Santuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
Pendant in gold and amethist donated by the Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy
Madonna of Oropa (1800/1849) by Piedmont areaSantuario e Sacro Monte di Oropa
The Madonna of Oropa adorned with the jewels of the Centenary Coronations
