Modern facade of the Collevalenza Sanctuary with a tall brick bell tower, a blue sky, and clouds in the background.
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Sanctuary of Merciful Love

The Sanctuary of Merciful Love

The Sanctuary of Merciful Love is located in Collevalenza, a small hamlet in the town of Todi, nestled in the peaceful Umbrian countryside. This deeply spiritual place is closely linked to the figure of Mother Speranza of Jesus, a Spanish mystic and religious woman of humble origins, who dedicated her long life to spreading the message of God’s Merciful Love.
 Madre Speranza began her religious journey in Spain: the eldest of nine children, she was able to pursue her studies in a Catholic environment, where her unshakable faith was also forged. In 1949, she received a divine message to build a sanctuary dedicated to God’s merciful love. In 1951, she moved to Italy, settling in Collevalenza with a few fellow sisters to create a place that could welcome all those seeking comfort and hope.
 Even today, pilgrims from all over the world visit the sanctuary founded by Mother Speranza and the associated structures, such as the Pilgrim’s House or the pools containing water believed to be miraculous.

The modern Sanctuary of Merciful Love

The sanctuary, designed by Spanish architect Julio Lafuente, is an impressive and fascinating building that carefully combines modernity with symbolism.
Construction began in 1953. In 1965, the upper church was completed and consecrated by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, while the rest of the religious complex was finished in 1974. In 1981, Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary, and the following year, he elevated it to the status of minor basilica.
The building is preceded by a large semicircular forecourt, beneath which are several facilities serving the religious complex, including access to the pools, as well as a long flight of steps. To the right stands the 45-meter high bell tower, made with the same materials as the sanctuary. Its shape, representing a stylised cross, is formed by four key-shaped pillars that reach towards the sky.
The architecture of the sanctuary is also characterised by clean lines and striking geometric shapes, reflected in the two large overlapping worship halls.
The interior of the upper church, with a single nave, is illuminated by a large concave stained glass window at the entrance and a cross-shaped skylight. The internal space is defined by large cylindrical walls, opening out towards the altar, which serve as side chapels.

Bronze portal of the Collevalenza Sanctuary, with an overhanging perforated wall made of glass and concrete and geometric details.

One of the entrances of the Sanctuary of Merciful Love

Panoramic view from the forecourt of the Sanctuary of Merciful Love, with a cloudy sky and diffused light.

Panorama from the Sanctuary of Merciful Love

Interior of the lower church, with a raised altar topped by a circular mosaic

Interior of the lower church

Tomb with a brick cross and the inscription

Tomb of Mother Speranza

The crypt, burial place of Mother Speranza

The large load-bearing cylinders that support the entire building extend below the level of the main church, forming a partially underground crypt. Above the altar, consecrated to Mary Mediatrix, stands a mosaic by Professor Mariano Villalta, depicting the Virgin Mary gathered with the apostles in the Upper Room.
 Behind the altar is the tomb of Mother Speranza, whose remains were entombed on February 13, 1983. Popular devotion has turned the tomb of the Spanish mystic, beatified by Pope Francis in 2014, into a site of pilgrimage and worship.

Collevalenza: the “Little Lourdes” of Umbria

Over the years, Collevalenza has earned the nickname of “Little Lourdes” due to the presence of water believed to have miraculous properties. The story of the discovery of this water once again intertwines with the life of Mother Speranza. During the construction of the sanctuary, she received the divine message instructing her to dig near the sanctuary to find water with healing properties, which, as a manifestation of God’s Merciful Love, would heal the sick and infirm.
 At that time, Collevalenza was a small village with very few residents, and water resources were limited, so many were astonished by the determination with which Mother Speranza initiated the excavation works. It took several months, partly due to the numerous problems encountered during the drilling, but eventually, Mother Speranza succeeded in locating an abundant water vein, which emerged between 92 and 122 meters underground.
 The miraculous water discovered by Mother Speranza was channelled to the Sanctuary of Merciful Love and today feeds the six pools of the site. Also designed by architect Lafuente, the pools were built in 1960 and opened to pilgrims on March 1, 1979. Since then, the water of Collevalenza, with unique properties such as a constant temperature of 22°C, has been attributed to many miraculous healings.

For more information, please consult the website of the Sanctuary of Merciful Love in Collevalenza.

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