The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie sits on the right of the Cordevole on the road between Alleghe and Caprile, in the little village of Le Grazie, in the municipality of Rocca Pietore. The sacred area on the other side of bridge is actually formed by an ancient building erected as the result of a promise made to the Madonna in 1645 by the heads of the families of Calloneghe and by a new sanctuary next to it, blessed in 1954; both are entrusted to the care of the Franciscan friars. Among the numerous works of art once found in the original church was an altar dedicated to San Giovanni Nepomuceno, perhaps because of the many floods and landslides that over the centuries altered the course of the Cordevole, causing serious damage to the village.

From Belluno, follow the SR203 Agordina; at Cencenighe, keep right and follow the SR203 in the direction of Alleghe. Once you come out of the village of Alleghe, go round the shore of the lake and then along the banks of the Cordevole for about 2 km. On the left you will see the bridge over the Cordevole and the large parking area near the church.

ACCESSIBLE: yes
MUNICIPALITY: Rocca Pietore
PLACE: Le Grazie
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: X 1731173 -Y 5145321
PROVINCE: Belluno

FILE COMPILED BY: Lonzi

The nearby Alleghe lake was formed in 1771 when a landslide broke away from Monte Piz, burying the villages of Marin, Riete and Fusine and blocking the flow of the Cordevole.

Franciscan Friars, S. Maria delle Grazie, Vicenza, 1989
M. Dal Din Dell’Armi, Dissesti idrogeologici ed eventi calamitosi nell’Agordino dal 1000 al 1966, Belluno Social and Cultural Research Institute, Belluno, 1986
V. Meneghin, S. Maria delle Grazie dell’Alto Cordevole, Venice, 1979