Nestled in the green Letimbro Valley, just a few kilometres from the centre of Savona, stands the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia, one of the most iconic places in Liguria. Its history began in 1536, when, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a peasant named Antonio Botta. The words she spoke; “Mercy and not justice”, were experienced by the people as a call for conversion and peace during a time of great tension. The initial plan was to build an oratory, but the collective fervour soon led to the construction of a full sanctuary. The church, featuring a nave and two side aisles, was completed within a few years in the typical Genoese Mannerist style. The vault and dome were frescoed by Bernardo Castello with scenes from the Gospels. In the square in front of the sanctuary stands a Baroque fountain by Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli, who engraved on the stone the phrase spoken by the Virgin: “Mercy and not justice.” Surrounding the sanctuary were later established hospices, orphanages, and a hospital for the needy.