The sanctuary houses a collection of 15th-century life-sized wax votive statues that hang from the ceiling, a rare survival of medieval devotional art.
Legend links the church's founding to a miracle involving the Virgin Mary who reportedly helped defeat the plague after the construction began.
The floor features a famous inclined slope designed to accommodate the influx of pilgrims entering the church.
It is the finish line for the ancient 'Madonna delle Grazie' pilgrimage route that runs along the river.
The sanctuary is famously associated with the 'Madonnari' artists' festival, where street painters decorate the square every August 15th.
The wooden roof structure is built like an inverted ship's hull.
The Sanctuary of Our Vergine Maria of Grace (Santuario della Beata Vergine Maria delle Grazie) is a late Gothic pilgrimage church located in Curtatone, just outside Mantua. Construction began in 1399 under Francesco I Gonzaga to commemorate the end of a plague. The interior is defined by a unique suspended installation of life-sized wax figures, featuring historical figures like Emperor Charles V and Pope Pius II. The structure is built on a narrow strip of land overlooking the Mincio River and the surrounding marshes of the Mincio Park. The façade is characterized by terracotta decorations typical of the Lombard Gothic style. It remains an active site of worship and is traditionally visited by pilgrims walking from Mantua. The church houses several funerary monuments of the Gonzaga family and local nobility.
From the river embankment path looking back toward the church façade to capture its position rising above the reeds.
Visit during the Ferragosto festival in mid-August to see professional chalk artists decorating the piazza.
Walk the perimeter towards the riverbanks to observe the unique wetland ecosystem surrounding the building.
Ensure you have enough time to inspect the intricate wax figures in the side chapels.
Do not mistake the modern town center of Curtatone for the sanctuary location, which is situated specifically in the hamlet of Grazie.
The sanctuary is generally accessible daily, though may be restricted during private religious services or significant liturgical feast days.
Modest dress covering shoulders and knees is strictly required; maintain silence as it is an active place of worship.
