At the Grotta di Lourdes

<p>A detour from the walk that leads from the center of Vigo to the church of Santa Giuliana climbs towards a precious and secluded place of worship in the silence of memory and truce.</p>

<p>"O Mary, bless our Valley." This is the prayer inscribed at the entrance of the Grotta di Lourdes, a rock cave surrounded by the magnificence of the Catinaccio. The climb is short, then the path becomes easier. The grotto was built in 1888 for a received grace whose memory has been lost, although the memory of those who left the words painted inside on the altar remains alive: "This is the Mother, look at her, cry, pray, for she does not deny grace to her devotees." Walking this path and touching the grotto is not just a gesture of devotion; it is a way to understand the reality of mountain people, their need for protection and grace to escape or survive the calamities of nature and human wars. In Val di Fassa, places of worship blend and deeply intertwine with historical sites, those that have safeguarded depopulation over time.</p>