On February 22, 1550, the Virgin appeared in this place to a poor but very faithful woman whose name was Antonia Bedini. Then for the last nine months of her life, she found everyday bread in her house.
This event and the graces that the Virgin granted to the local people brought about the construction of the sanctuary in 1551-56. The inside was transformed in 1755, restored and decorated in frescoes in 1927 by C. Baldi, on commission of the sanctuary rector Don Enrico Morara.
It is a very beautiful Madonna with the Child, between the Saints Francesco D'Assisi and Girolamo, and it has been attributed to Francia family.
The sanctuary was restored after the destruction of its surrounding parts during the World War II. A cloister next to the church and some arcades in front of the sanctuary were added later.
Inside you can find an interesting small picture about the Virgin apparition and a painting of the Madonna, the Child and the Saints Lorenzo and Giuliana de' Banzi of Calvart.
In 1568, the Sacred Image was brought for the first time to Castel San Pietro Terme during Rogation Days, as it is usually done nowadays. It gave rise to controversy with Medicina people but at that time, the bishop of Bologna's intervention stopped the disputes.