The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Predaia, Italy

Predaia is home to the magnificent Sanctuary of San Romedio, a medieval pilgrimage site clinging to a rocky cliff where Saint Romedius lived as a hermit.

Nestled among apple orchards and alpine meadows in the Val di Non, the sanctuary complex at Predaia represents nearly a millennium of continuous Christian devotion. Here, clinging impossibly to a 70-meter limestone spur, five interconnected churches rise in tiers toward heaven, each built by generations of pilgrims who carried stones up the sheer cliff face to honor the hermit who once made his home in these caves. The dramatic rock path carved into the canyon walls remains one of the most significant religious walks in all of Trentino. The story of this extraordinary place begins with Romedius, a wealthy Bavarian nobleman who renounced his estates near Innsbruck to seek God in solitude. According to legend, when a bear savaged his horse on the way to visit his friend Bishop Vigilius of Trento, Romedius simply ordered his disciple to saddle the bear instead—and the great beast submitted, carrying the saint on its back through the mountains. That bear became his lifelong companion, and today a brown bear named Bruno still lives in an enclosure at the sanctuary's base, a living reminder of this remarkable tale. The site now welcomes over 200,000 pilgrims annually, attended by Franciscan friars who continue the spiritual work that began over a thousand years ago.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Romedius was born into the family of the Counts of Thaur in the Inn Valley near Innsbruck, heir to vast estates, a castle, and salt pans that generated considerable wealth. After a transformative pilgrimage to Rome around the turn of the first millennium, he gave everything to the Church and withdrew to the remote Val di Non with two companions, Abraham and David. Following directions from Bishop Vigilius, he first visited the tomb of the Anaunian Martyrs at Sanzeno—Saints Sisinnius, Martyrius, and Alexander, who had been killed there in 397 while trying to convert the local pagans—before settling into a cave high on the rocky spur where the sanctuary now stands. For decades Romedius lived as a hermit, cultivating the land and growing in holiness. The famous bear episode occurred near the end of his life, when the elderly hermit wished to bid farewell to Bishop Vigilius in Trento. When told that a bear had killed his horse, Romedius calmly instructed his disciple David to bridle the beast instead. The bear submitted and carried its holy burden all the way to Trento, afterward remaining with Romedius until his death at approximately 74 years of age. When Romedius died on January 15, his body was buried in a small tomb above his cave, in the very spot where he had built a shrine. The bishop of Trento, Adalperone, officially recognized the cult by the end of the year 1000. The first church, dedicated to San Nicolò, was built at the highest point of the rock around this time, constructed from stones that pilgrims carried up the steep cliff. In 1120, the saint's relics were transferred to a shrine within this chapel, and some were distributed to churches across Tyrol, Bavaria, and Bohemia through the patronage of the local Counts of Thun. The sanctuary grew steadily over the following centuries. In 1300, the Church officially recognized Saint Romedius, and devotion intensified dramatically in the 15th century when crowds of pilgrims brought countless ex-votos. The Cles family built the Chapel of Saint George in 1487, while the Thun family—patrons of the sanctuary for three and a half centuries—added the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel (1514-1516) and the main Church of Saint Romedius (1536). The final addition came in 1918: the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, built as an ex-voto for the safe return of soldiers from the Great War and dedicated in 1923. In 1948, spiritual care of the sanctuary was entrusted to the Franciscan order. Between 2012 and 2016, the Autonomous Province of Trento funded extensive restoration work, including the consolidation of walls and plaster, roof refurbishment, and restoration of seventy votive tablets among the 120 declared to be of cultural interest. Today, San Romedio is one of the stops on the pilgrimage route "Il Papa delle Dolomiti," organized for the Jubilee 2025—a fitting tribute, as Blessed John Paul I often visited the sanctuary as a child with his grandparents and fellow villagers, and later wrote a unique letter to Saint Romedius's bear in his famous collection Illustrissimi.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Predaia

The pilgrimage experience in Predaia centers on two remarkable sacred sites connected by a Way of the Cross: the clifftop Sanctuary of San Romedio and the Basilica of the Holy Martyrs in the village of Sanzeno below. The most evocative approach is the sentiero delle forre (gorge path)—a 2.5-kilometer trail carved into the sheer ravine wall along an old 19th-century irrigation canal, taking approximately 45 minutes to walk.

Sanctuary of San Romedio (Santuario di San Romedio)

Local Name: Santuario di San Romedio Address: Via San Romedio 1, 38012 Sanzeno (TN), Italy GPS Coordinates: 46.3689663, 11.1064674 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: sanromedio.org Dedication: Saint Romedius Historical Note: The sanctuary consists of five churches built over approximately 900 years, clinging to a 70-meter high limestone rock and connected by a spectacular stairway of 131 steps. The oldest structure, the Church of San Nicolò, dates to around the year 1000 and was built directly over Saint Romedius's tomb. Subsequent additions include the Chapel of Saint George (1487), the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel (1514), the main Church of Saint Romedius (1536), and the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (1918-1923). The complex also features seven aedicules depicting the Passion of Christ, installed along the stairway in 1940. Spiritual Importance: The relics of Saint Romedius are preserved in a shrine dating to 1120 within the original church. Along the stairway, hundreds of ex-votos—crutches, paintings, and offerings—testify to centuries of answered prayers and miraculous healings. The views from the highest point over the canyon below are breathtaking. At the sanctuary's base, a brown bear named Bruno lives in an enclosure, continuing the living memorial to the saint's legendary companion. Two Franciscan friars serve as custodians, and daily Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM (5:00 PM in July and August), with Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

Basilica of the Holy Martyrs (Basilica dei Santi Martiri)

Local Name: Basilica dei Santi Martiri Anauniesi / Basilica dei SS. Martiri di Sanzeno Address: Località Santi Martiri 54, 38010 Sanzeno (TN), Italy GPS Coordinates: 46.3724, 11.0808 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: Saints Sisinnius, Martyrius, and Alexander Historical Note: This Gothic-Renaissance basilica stands on the site where three Cappadocian missionaries—sent by Saint Ambrose of Milan to assist Bishop Vigilius of Trento—were martyred on May 29, 397. The current structure was commissioned by Prince-Bishop Johannes Hinderbach in 1480, built over an earlier 13th-century Romanesque church. During construction, the urn containing the ashes and soil of the martyrs was discovered beneath the altar. The imposing Romanesque bell tower survives from the earlier church, while the elegant Renaissance portal (1542) features a lunette fresco of the Madonna with Child and the Three Martyrs. Pope Paul VI elevated it to minor basilica status in 1973. Spiritual Importance: The Martyrs' Chapel, protected by a wrought-iron gate with a wooden ceiling, contains fragments from the pyre of Saints Sisinnius, Martyrius, and Alexander, alongside 12th-century frescoes offering a direct connection to Alpine Christianity's earliest days. The three-nave interior creates a rarefied atmosphere with its eight white stone columns and Gothic ribbed vaulting. The basilica is designated a Jubilee church of Trentino for 2025. A Way of the Cross connects the basilica to the Sanctuary of San Romedio, following the path that Saint Romedius himself once walked to venerate these martyrs' tombs.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

January 15 – Feast of Saint Romedius Sanctuary of San Romedio. The principal feast draws pilgrims from throughout Trentino and the Tyrolean region for a solemn Mass followed by the traditional tipico piatto del pellegrino—a hearty dish of tripe that has sustained winter pilgrims for centuries. May 29 – Feast of the Anaunian Martyrs Basilica of the Holy Martyrs, Sanzeno. The anniversary of the martyrdom of Saints Sisinnius, Martyrius, and Alexander, commemorating the day in 397 when these three missionaries gave their lives for the faith.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Pineta Nature Resort – Wellness & SPA ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via al Lac 16, 38010 Coredo (TN), Italy 🌐 Website: pinetahotels.it 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Surrounded by greenery near the Coredo lakes, this wellness resort offers indoor swimming pool, spa facilities, and easy access to the sanctuary trails. Villa Orso Grigio 📍 Address: Loc. Regole 14, 38019 Ronzone (TN), Italy 🌐 Website: villaorsogrigio.it An intimate hotel amid the meadows and mountains of the Val di Non, offering free Wi-Fi, private gardens, and authentic Trentino hospitality. Albergo Cavallino Bianco 📍 Address: Via Trento 17, 38010 Coredo (TN), Italy Set in the heart of Val di Non, this traditional family-run hotel offers beautiful mountain views and an authentic Trentino welcome, convenient to the sanctuary. Garni Le Maddalene 📍 Address: Via delle Maddalene 1, 38010 Sfruz (TN), Italy A modern guesthouse dating from 2018 with garden, terrace, and bar. Coredo and the sanctuary are a 10-minute drive away.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest airports are Verona Villafranca (VRN, 130 km south) and Innsbruck (INN, 130 km north). Both offer car rental facilities for the scenic drive through the Alps. By Train: Take the Trento-Malè railway (Ferrovia Trento-Malè) from Trento to Dermulo station (approximately 45 minutes), then local bus service to Sanzeno (15 minutes). From Sanzeno, the gorge path leads directly to the sanctuary. By Car: From Trento, take the SS43 (Via del Brennero) north toward Cles, then follow the SS43dir to Sanzeno (approximately 40 km, 45 minutes). A narrow tarmacked road leads from Sanzeno through the canyon to the sanctuary parking lot (1 km). Note: In summer (July-September), the access road is closed to private vehicles and a shuttle bus operates from the "Al Mulino" parking lot in Sanzeno to the sanctuary (every 20 minutes, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM; €3 one-way, €4 return). On Foot: The most atmospheric approach is the sentiero delle forre (gorge path), beginning at the Museo Retico in Sanzeno and following an old irrigation canal carved into the rock face. The 2.5 km path takes approximately 45 minutes and offers stunning views of the canyon. Mountain footwear and a rock helmet are recommended.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Pope John Paul I, Illustrissimi: Letters from Pope John Paul I (Amazon) – Includes the future pope's charming letter to Saint Romedius's bear, written when he was Patriarch of Venice.
  • Paul Haider, Romedius Büchlein – A comprehensive German-language guide to the saint's life and sanctuary.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

The Val di Non and surrounding Trentino region offer additional sites of spiritual significance. Trento, the regional capital 40 km south, preserves the tomb of Saint Vigilius in its magnificent cathedral—the same bishop whom Saint Romedius rode his tamed bear to visit. Innsbruck in Austria, 130 km north, is home to Thaur, the birthplace of Saint Romedius, where the Romedikirchl on the castle hill remains a popular pilgrimage site.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"In the Val di Non in Trentino, St Romedius, an anchorite, who, having given his possessions to the Church, led a life of penance in the hermitage that still bears his name today."

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— Roman Martyrology, January 15