In just a few days, northern Italy will be receiving even more worldwide attention, with the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Many great athletes will be going for gold.
It will be exciting to watch the Olympic Games in the scenic settings offered by the Lombardy and Veneto regions, with the competitions playing out in the city of Milan and 160 miles northeast in the picturesque mountain town Cortina d’Ampezzo.
It should be especially exciting for the faithful tuning in as we can take pride in knowing that so many saints who have already competed and won the race are from northern Italy, a virtual treasure trove of Catholicism.
This is a great location for a group or private pilgrimage. At least a week, if not 10 days, should be allowed to not only see the important religious sites but to allow time for prayer, reflection, and just a chance to be present in and around these magnificent places of exquisite beauty, architecture and magnificent landscapes — dotted by mountains and the pristine and picturesque lakes, including Como, Maggiore and Garda.
Milan, although noted for being a hub for fashion and finance, can also lay claim to being a giant when it comes to the Church. Milan is located in the region of Lombardy. It is the capital of the region. One of its jewels is the enormous Duomo di Milano Cathedral.
Dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Mother, its official name is the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of St. Mary. The Duomo took some six centuries to complete, with the final details added as recently as 1965. It is the largest church in Italy, even larger than St. Peter’s Basilica, and is known for not only its ornate gothic exterior with 135 spires, but its stained-glass windows, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
A statue of the Blessed Mother in gold is seen against the background of a stained-glass window in the Duomo, which is dedicated to Our Lady, in Milan.Copyright (c) 2022 nadtochiy/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
The tomb of St. Charles Borromeo is also housed in the famous Duomo of Milan.
Although one could spend days in the main sanctuary, pilgrims should not miss the opportunity to slip below this cathedral and see the archeological treasures there, including the ruins of buildings, some which date all the way to Roman times. It is here where you will also be able to stand in the spot where St. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine.
Speaking of Ambrose and Augustine, St. Ambrose is buried in the church he founded in the fourth century, the Basilica of Sant’ Ambrogio. Travel just 27 minutes south of Milan to Pavia, and there you will find the tomb of Augustine in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’ Oro, St. Peter of the Golden Heaven, aptly named for its stunning golden ceiling.
Milan also offers the opportunity to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, housed in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, located in the western part of Milan’s city center. Painted by da Vinci in the late-15th century, The Last Supper is not kept in a frame but is painted on a wall of the convent and is a top attraction for tourists, pilgrims and, of course, art enthusiasts.
‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci is painted on a wall in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.Copyright (c) 2024 A. Emson/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Just 15 miles west of Milan is the lovely town of Magenta, home to the much-loved and more recent saint Gianna Beretta Molla. Visiting Magenta is an absolute joy, as pilgrims can visit the church, Basilica di San Martino, where Gianna married the love of her life, Pietro. Step inside, and you feel like you’re a guest at their wedding. The walls of the basilica are lined with amazing pictures from this sacred event, including incredible black-and-white photos of the couple on their wedding day in September 1955. You can also visit sites related to where the Beretta Molla family lived and where Gianna ran her medical practice.
About 90 minutes southwest of Milan and closer to the French border is the city of Turin, birthplace as well as burial place of several saints, including Sts. Pier Giorgio Frassati, John Bosco, Dominic Savio and Mary Mazzarella.
Pier Giorgio is buried in the city’s cathedral, St. John the Baptist, which also houses the Holy Shroud of Turin. A special chapel was built where the shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, is kept inside a special chapel, enclosed in a climate-controlled case. Although the shroud is not currently available for viewing, there is a wonderful museum near the cathedral containing the history of the shroud and related artifacts, as well as displays detailing studies that have been conducted on its authenticity.
Pier Giorgio Frassati’s tomb(Photo: Bénédicte Cedergren)
Exposition of the Holy Shroud underway April 18, 2015, in Turin.(Photo: Miqu77/Shutterstock)Copyright (c) 2015 miqu77/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians, is buried in the Basilica of Our Lady, Help of Christians. St. Mary Mazzarella, who, under the direction of St. John, founded the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, is also buried here, along with St. Dominic Savio, who studied under St. John Bosco. Dominic died at the age of 14.
Head northeast and, in three hours, you could be touring Cortina d’’Ampezzo in the Veneto region, referred to as the “Queen” or “Pearl of the Dolomites.” The town is known for its alpine scenery and, yes, winter sports, as well as its nearly 20 churches. The most prominent church is the Basilica of St. Phillip and St. James. The saints are also the patrons of the city.
With so many important Catholic saints connected with the locations of this year’s Olympics, we can ask for their intercession and pray that the games will be, as Pope Leo recently stated, an opportunity to promote peace and dialogue.
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