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Madonna del Ghisallo

A hilltop sanctuary above Lake Como, declared patron shrine of cyclists in 1949, with a cycling museum next door.

  • Magreglio
  • Church
Plan your visit
Where
Magreglio
Best for
Patron sanctuary of cyclists since 1949
Allow
1 hour
Tickets
Free

Cyclists have ridden up to this chapel above Lake Como for generations, but in 1949 Pope Pius XII made it official: the Madonna del Ghisallo became the Catholic Church's patron saint of cyclists.

The small sanctuary now shares its hilltop with a cycling museum, opened in 2006, that holds one of the largest collections of pink Giro d'Italia leader's jerseys anywhere, alongside racing bikes and memorabilia spanning a century of Italian cycling. The road up from Lake Como is itself part of cycling folklore, a climb that professionals and weekend amateurs alike still treat as something close to a pilgrimage, especially in the weeks around the Giro d'Italia.

Five things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The sanctuary of the cyclistsSmall chapel, patron of cyclists since 1949

    A small, simple chapel where riders leave jerseys and mementos, the spiritual heart of Italian cycling.Hilltop at Magreglio

  2. The legendary bicyclesBartali’s Legnano, Coppi’s hour-record bike, Magni’s Wilier

    Four bikes from the great rivalry years sit side by side in one display case.Museum, central display

  3. The pink jerseysGiro d’Italia leader’s jerseys

    The largest collection of pink jerseys anywhere, from past champions to recent winners.Museum

  4. The 24 + 24 roomsFiorenzo Magni

    Two circular spaces show the records of forty-eight champions chosen by Magni, a cycling hall of fame.Museum

  5. The view over the lakeNatural setting

    The hill looks over the Lake Como side, the reason the climb is as popular as the museum.From the hill

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
Free
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
1 hour
Best time
Weekday afternoons, away from the cyclists who climb here in force on weekends
Getting there
Magreglio sits above Bellagio on the SP41, a drive up from the Bellagio ferry landing; it's also a well-known cycling climb from both Bellagio and Asso, so expect to share the narrow road with bikes on weekends.
Accessibility
The Museo del Ciclismo has wheelchair access, lifts with Braille buttons and accessible restrooms.

The sanctuary itself is free to enter; dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), and time your visit around Mass if you want the church quiet. The adjoining Museo del Ciclismo charges €6 full price, €5 reduced, €3 for ages 9 to 17, and is free under age 8.

If you time it to a Giro d'Italia year that climbs this road, you may catch the professionals training on the same stretch; otherwise weekday mornings, before the amateur cycling clubs arrive, are quietest.

Official website
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Good to know

How long should you spend at the Madonna del Ghisallo?

About an hour: a few minutes for the chapel and the rest for the museum, which is bigger than it looks. Cycling fans will want longer.

Do you need to be a cyclist to visit the Madonna del Ghisallo?

No. You can drive up from Bellagio and enjoy the chapel, museum and view, though expect to share the narrow road with riders on weekends.

Can you combine the Madonna del Ghisallo with Bellagio in one day?

Yes. Bellagio is below on the lake, so you can walk its lanes in the morning and then drive or cycle up to Magreglio, or the other way around. Weekday afternoons are quieter at the sanctuary.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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