Bra, Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Flowers of

BRA, SANTUARIO DELLA MADONNA DEI FIORI. — It owes its name to the characteristic annual flowering, in the middle of winter, of certain wild blackthorns (“prunus spinosa”) found within the sanctuary grounds. This unusual flowering began on 29

September 1336, when the Virgin appeared to help a young bride, Egidia Mathis, who, in order to escape the advances of two soldiers, hid in the blackthorn thicket surrounding a small wayside shrine dedicated to her. A new sanctuary has been built in recent years (the earlier building dated from the 17th century), with a retreat house attached.