History, details and curiosities

 Saint Romedius, heir of a rich Bavarian family, lived in the 4th and 5th centuries. Following an enlightening pilgrimage to Rome, he decided to donate all his possessions to the Church and retire as a hermit in a cave in Val di Non. Legend has it that his horse was attacked and killed by a bear. Then, the saint domesticated the bear. He died in 405 AD and was buried on top of a rocky outcrop.

Around 1000 AD, the very first church was built on the site of the ancient burial. Building stones were brought up by the ancient pilgrims. The cult of Saint Romedius was recognized by the Church in 1300. Between 1000 and 1918, five churches were erected in succession, all close to a steep rock wall and joined together by a splendid staircase of 130 steps.

The recommended route to reach this marvelous example of medieval Christian art in Trento province is a walk in the rock face of the mountain. The starting point is near the car park of the Rhaetian Museum of San Zeno. From there, you reach the sanctuary in half an hour of spectacular walking (3 kilometers). The flat path is entirely carved into the rock, overlooking the underlying gorge and a stream with clear and crystalline waters. At the base of the sanctuary, there’s a wildlife area where a nice specimen of brown bear lives.