Discover
The House of Saint Paulina is located in a quaint and intimate square near the historical center of Vigolo Vattaro. It is managed by the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, an order founded by the saint herself in Brazil. The well-preserved home consists of four rooms, including the one where Amabile Lucia Visintainer was born in 1865. For years, Saint Paulina’s house has been a pilgrimage destination for South Americans, often part of journeys to trace Trentino roots in the Altopiano della Vigolana.
Visiting the House of Saint Paulina: The Life of the Saint
Before visiting the House of Saint Paulina, it can be helpful to learn more about her life. Amabile Lucia Visintainer was born in Vigolo Vattaro on December 16, 1865, to Antonio Napoleone Visintainer and Anna Pianezzer. On September 25, 1875, Saint Paulina’s family embarked on a journey to emigrate to Brazil, accompanied by other residents of Vigolo.
The group was assigned land to colonize in what was then a province, now the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. Ten years after her First Communion, Amabile had three dreams of the Virgin Mary, as she had appeared in Lourdes. In the first dream, the Virgin said: “It is my ardent desire that you begin a work: to labor for the salvation of my daughters.” In a subsequent dream, the Virgin asked her, “What have you decided, my daughter?” The Virgin concluded, “I will give you someone to help you. Later, I will show you the daughters I wish to entrust to you.”
On August 25, 1895, the Bishop of Curitiba approved the rule of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, founded by Amabile, who had become Sister Paulina of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. In 1903, she became the Superior General of the first two communities and moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where she led the Congregation, organizing schools, hospitals, and workshops while dedicating herself entirely to the poor.
In her later years, she endured with serenity the suffering caused by diabetes: she underwent the amputation of her right arm and became blind a few months before her death on July 9, 1942. Sister Paulina loved to tell her fellow sisters: “When I am dead, your mothers will send sisters to Vigolo, where I was born.”
In July 1963, Trentino and the Vigolana region rediscovered Saint Paulina, thanks to a meeting between Monsignor Guido Bortolameotti and Sister Paula Maria, the Congregation’s Superior General. She, honoring the founder’s wish, sought out her birthplace. On May 14, 1978, the first group of the Little Sisters of Saint Paulina arrived in the Altopiano della Vigolana, where they have maintained a permanent presence ever since, close to the House of Saint Paulina.
On May 19, 2002, in Rome, Sister Paulina was canonized by Pope John Paul II. Saint Paulina, the first saint of South America and Trentino, has been named the patron saint of Trentino emigrants.
The Sanctuary of Saint Paulina in Nova Trento, Brazil, receives over one million visitors annually from South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Visiting the Saint Paulina’s House in Vigolo Vattaro
The house of Saint Paulina can be visited by appointment with the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Contact the sisters at +39 0461.848755 to check availability of House of Saint Paulina.
Days
01 January 24
31 December 25
Timetable
09:00 - 18:00
Information/To know
Suitable for Everybody
Wheelchair accessible
Location/The place
Address
Località Vigolo Vattaro, Comune Altopiano della Vigolana, Piazzetta S. Paolina
How to get there
By Car: From the Trento Sud exit of the A22 motorway, follow signs for Vicenza-Vigolo Vattaro. If traveling on the SS47 Valsugana road, take the Levico Terme exit, then proceed toward Caldonazzo and Bosentino. From Bosentino, continue toward Trento and follow the SS349 road from Carbonare toward Trento to reach Vigolo Vattaro. By Bus: From Trento’s bus station, take a direct bus to Vigolo Vattaro.
