Prayer Days at the Riffian Pilgrimage Church

Days of prayer at the Riffian sanctuary

The Gebetstage—literally "days of prayer"—are the annual devotional observance that brings the faithful and pilgrims together at the Wallfahrtskirche "Zu den Sieben Schmerzen Mariens", the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows in Riffian, in the heart of the Passeier Valley in the Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol). For three days, the sanctuary becomes the spiritual center of the valley: masses, the rosary, adoration, and communal prayer mark a time of reflection centered on the miraculous image of the Pietà.

One of the oldest Marian sanctuaries in Tyrol

Riffian is one of the oldest and most well-known pilgrimage sites in South Tyrol. The first written records—some letters of indulgence—date back to 1310, and in 2010 the village celebrated the 700th anniversary of its pilgrimage. According to the foundation legend, a farmer noticed a beam of light in the bed of the Passer river at night and, upon following it, discovered the venerated image of the Mother of Sorrows among the sand and debris: the inhabitants then decided to erect a worthy chapel in the center of the village.

A Baroque jewel

Following a radical renovation entrusted to the architect Francesco Delai, the church was consecrated in 1671 and is considered one of the most beautiful and successful Baroque churches in South Tyrol. The altar houses the miraculous image of the Pietà, a fine stone work dating back to around 1415, framed by seven cherubs bearing tablets depicting the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The sanctuary also preserves a Gothic baptismal font in white marble, and its charm is completed by a meditation path (Besinnungsweg) created in 2010, featuring seven wooden sculptures dedicated to the sorrows of the Virgin.

A faith-based event in the Burggrafenamt

The Gebetstage are part of the long tradition of pilgrimages that have drawn the faithful from across historical Tyrol to Riffian for centuries. Located just a few kilometers from Merano, in a panoramic position above the Passeier Valley, the sanctuary remains a destination for devotion and cultural tourism throughout the year. During the days of prayer, however, the focus returns to the spiritual dimension: it is an opportunity for the valley's communities and visitors alike to participate in an ancient rite deeply rooted in the identity of the Municipality of Riffian and the Trentino-Alto Adige Region.