[1] While a road now leads up to the sanctuary, it is also possible to reach it along a 3.8 km monumental roofed arcade (Porticoes of Bologna) consisting of 666 arches, which was built in 1674–1793.

Tradition holds that in the 12th-century, a pilgrim from the Byzantine empire came to Bologna with an icon of the Virgin from the temple of Saint Sophia in Constantinople.

In 1160, the bishop of Bologna Gerardo Grassi assigned the icon to a small hermitage-chapel atop the hill that was tended by two holy women, Azzolina and Beatrice Guezi.

The lateral external tribunes were built by Carlo Francesco's son, Giovanni Giacomo, using his father's plans.

The Italian autumn classic race Giro dell'Emilia finishes on a circuit where the riders have to climb the road several times.