The Via Crucis by Beniamino Simoni

Camonica Valley is an area rich in art, spirituality, and UNESCO world heritage sites. But there is more: the valley is dotted with small villages thousands of years old, of which some have evolved over time, while others remained faithful to their history and cultural traditions.

One of the villages which has best preserved its past is Cerveno, a small municipality with a population of about 680 located in mid-Camonica Valley, between Breno and Capo di Ponte, at the foot of Concarena massif and overlooking the River Oglio. The main attraction of Cerveno is Sanctuary of the Via Crucis (or Stations of the Cross), which is home to the masterpiece of wooden sculpture by Beniamino Simoni da Saviore, very popular among tourists and those seeking somewhere mystical in which to escape from they humdrum of everyday life.

Sanctuary of the Via Crucis: artistic masterpiece of the 18th century

After leaving your car in the car park, head to the center of the village, to Piazza Roma. From here, enter the sanctuary—in customary silence—and you will find the amazing sculptures in the side chapels, depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross with 198 imposing real-size wooden statues carved mostly by Beniamino Simoni, with some by his apprentices and successors.

This work, an example of the Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) tradition in Lombardy and Piedmont, was completed between 1752 and 1764 and is an outstanding explosion of technique, passion, art, and religious culture. Numerous restoration projects have maintained the statues in excellent condition.

Of these, the most recent ones lasted from 2020 to 2023 and affected as many as 6 stations, including the 14th chapel, the largest, and the entire staircase. A new lighting system was also installed.

Cerveno and the 10-yearly festival of the Santa Crus

Every 10 years, in May, Cerveno hosts an event which involves the whole village and attracts thousands of people: the re-enactment of the Passion of Jesus Christ, a grandiose recreation of the final moments of Jesus inspired by the characters of Simoni’s sculptures.

This great event involves lengthy preparations throughout the village. The reenactment is held in a climate of silence and meditation, culminating in the final procession to ‘Golgotha’. Find out more about the event.

For information about the sanctuary and opening hours, call +39 0364 330227 or visit the official website.