This imposing twin-spired Romanesque Revival basilica crowns southern Wisconsin’s highest hill (1,351 feet). The Discalced Carmelite Friars maintain this church built over the stone-built Shrine of Mary, which dates from 1879. The rib vaults are carried on arcades of round arches separating the nave from the aisles. In the apse is a mosaic depicting the Court of Heaven and a pink-veined Kasota marble altar. Conrad Schmitt Studios decorated the church interior. Stained glass, by Van Treek Studios of Munich, Germany, was installed in 1958. A small anteroom features crutches, braces, and prosthetic devices from devotees who believe that their pilgrimage to Holy Hill healed them. The Stations of the Cross that ring the monastery complex attract large crowds each Good Friday. The unfortunate placement of a parking structure in front of the church has marred its commanding site.
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Holy Hill Shrine
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