Spirituality, nature and archeology
Overlooking the vast Turin plain and the alpine views of the Canavese, the Sacred Mount of Belmonte is the most recent of the Piedmont-area Sacred Mounts included in the UNESCO world heritage site list, created to integrate the religious offer of an ancient sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which dates back to the early eleventh century.
It was the Franciscan friar Michelangelo da Montiglio who - once returned from the Holy Land - planned the construction of a new Way of the Cross to illustrate the Passion and death of Christ. It was to be populated by life-size statues and paintings, inspired by the successful model of the Sacred Mount of Varallo.
The first eight chapels were built in less than ten years, four more between 1759 and 1781, while construction of the last one started only in 1825. All of them were arranged internally by unknown local artists and only the name of the painter is known: Grosso di Ivrea. It was him who in the late eighteenth century decorated the chapels of Pilate, the Cyrenean, the Pious Women and the Second Fall. The realism of the characters, like the faces of the villains who carry Christ to his death, is so effective and engaging as to justify the vandalism committed until a few decades ago by those who pelted the images of the villains with stones.
The thirteen chapels are located along a circular path in a lush natural environment full of century-old oaks and chestnut trees. It is also an area full of historical finds dating back to the late Bronze Age-first Iron Age (XII-XI century BC) to the Roman and late Roman period and the Lombard period, as proven by the ruins of a fortified village unearthed between the fifth and sixth chapel.
Info utili
How to get
To Valperga
By plane: Torino Caselle
By car: Motorway A5 Torino - Aosta, exit San Giorgio, direction Valperga
By train - bus: connections to Torino - www.gtt.to.it
Public transport info: Muoversi in Piemonte
To the Sacro Monte
With GPS: Sacro Monte di Belmonte, via Piemonte, from San Giorgio follow directions for Rivarolo, Cuorgné, Prascorsano (SP53+SP222+SP460+SP42+SP42)
On foot: ancient pedestrian connection from Valperga (1 hour distance)
Tourist Services
Road
The Sacro Monte can be reached by car up to the parking lots. Access to the historical area by motor vehicles or bicycles is forbidden unless a special authorization is issued by the Ente di gestione dei Sacri Monti.
Parking
Parking lots are available at the Sacro Monte.
Camper parking without services
Campers may park in the car parking.
Difficult access for the disabled
The Sacro Monte of Belmonte is a monumental complex with inner paths connecting the chapels through steps, cobbled, gravel and dirt roads, slopes and architectural barriers.
Disabled who cannot walk or with reduced mobility can easily reach the church through a pedestrian access ramp.
Info point
Information material is available for tourists at the info point near the church.
Guide-assisted tour
Guided tours to the Sacro Monte of Belmonte are organized by qualified guides.
Didactics
At the seven Sacri Monti of Piedmont, educational programs are organized for:
- Kindergartens
- Elementary schools
- Junior high schools and senior high schools
- Universities: with prior agreement, the Authority is available to arrange visit, study and in-depth analysis activities and specific projects.
Info: didattica@sacri-monti.com
Restaurant
Ristorante Belmonte
Phone +39 0124 617205 - E-mail: rist.belmonte@live.it www.ristorantebelmonte.it
Toilets
The toilets are located:
- between chapels 8 and 9
- near the church
Religious ceremonies
Church opening hours / closing hours:
8.00 am - 7.00 pm
Mass - Weekdays:
4,00 pm (winter time) o 5,00 pm (summer time)
Mass Weekends:
11,00 am e 4,00 pm (winter time) o 5.00 pm (summer time)
Rosary: 3.30 pm (winter time) or 4.30 pm (summer time)
Local Tourist Info
Turismo Torino e Provincia s.c.r.l. Torino Call Centre +39 011 535181
Ivrea Tel. +39.0125.618131
E-mail: info.ivrea@turismotorino.org
contact@turismotorino.org
www.turismotorino.org
