It is the ‘highest’ church on the island, as well as being the most evocative Marian sanctuary. Nostra Signora di Gonare stands in a marvellous setting at an altitude of 1100 metres. The mountain range, with its three limestone peaks (Gonare, Gonareddu and Punta Lotzori) and surrounded by grey granites, dominates the whole of central Sardinia. From the central peak, where the church stands, you can see the sea to the east and to the west on clear days. A part of the sanctuary walls belongs to the Parish Church of Sant’Andrea di Orani and the other part belongs to that of San Michele Arcangelo in Sarule. The same goes for the property of the cumbessias, ancient dwellings with porticoes for worshippers during celebrations, the most ancient of which were built next to the church, while others were built further downstream.

There is an aura of legend around the origins of Nostra Signora di Gonare. The sanctuary is the work of the judge of Torres, Gonario, who, upon his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, found himself in danger during a violent storm and promised the Virgin Mary that, in exchange for his life, he would build a church dedicated to her on the first site he caught sight of. Mount Gonare lit up, guiding him to safety, and the storm died down. The sanctuary was built on top of it. The first historical evidence of the cult of the Madonna of Gonare, deeply-rooted in central Sardinia, dates back to 1341: a payment of money by the rector of Gonare was discovered. Other evidence was found in the Chorographia Sardiniae (mid-16th century). In addition, the bell of the sanctuary dates back to 1587. A report by the bishop of Alghero (1608) describes the progress of the building taking place, which ended in 1619: the small sanctuary was extended to its current size. It was consecrated in 1912 and 60 years later, before the eyes of 50 thousand worshippers, the solemn coronation of Madonna di Gonare took place.

Many generations have invoked the Virgin Mary and climbed the mountain. The same thing happens today. The steep, captivating path is dug out of the rock, with places of worship along the way: su brazzolu (the cradle), where the infant would have been placed, s’imbaradorgiu, a boulder in the shape of a seat, and a small pit where the Virgin would have lay her hand. There are three celebrations: one on 25 March, the feast of the Annunciation, when a votive bread is distributed to pilgrims, on the last Sunday in May, the coronation anniversary, and on 8 September, the ‘big feast’, celebrated every other year by the respective parish priests of Orani and Sarule and preceded by a novena accompanied by gosos (devotional songs) and via crucis along the sides of the mountain.