The Sacro Monte of Orta

A Franciscan Sacro Monte: peace, nature and spirituality

The Sacro Monte is located in a charming landscape, on a promontory overlooking Lake Orta. A sequence of twenty chapels surrounded by nature illustrates some episodes of the life of St. Francis, with sculptures and paintings. The chapels are distributed along a route that runs along the hilltop, offering spectacular views on the lake and on San Giulio Island.

The first idea for a Sacro Monte in Orta dates back to 1583, modelled after the religious itinerary of the Sacro Monte of Varallo. It only became reality in 1590, thanks to the contribution of Abbot Amico Canobio from Novara, and according to the project of Capuchin architect Cleto from Castelletto Ticino. From 1593 to 1615, Bishop Carlo Bascapé of Novara became the main actor of the building process, setting an indelible stamp on the Sacro Monte. He established the sequence of mysteries to be built inside the chapels, he defined the architecture of the complex, in close cooperation with Cleto, and he invited renowned artists to work in Orta.

Statues and paintings create scenes of deep realism: the intimate and natural atmospheres typical of early seventeenth-century Lombard art are combined with the lively theatrical Baroque style of the end of the century. Among the artists that worked at the Sacro Monte of Orta, we can remember the Fiammenghinis, Morazzone, Cristoforo Prestinari, the d’Enricos, Dionigi Bussola and the Nuvolone brothers.

The route ends at the Church of San Nicolao, a proto-Romanesque building, completely redesigned during the seventeenth century to recreate the spaces of the lower Basilica of Assisi. The Church houses an ancient group of wooden statues representing Our Lady of Mercy (XIV century).

The beauty of the landscape, its silence and harmonious balance between art, architecture and nature mirror the essence of Franciscan spirituality.

Info utili

How to get

To Orta - San Giulio

By plane: Milano Malpensa
By car: A26, (E62), direction Gravellona Toce, exit Borgomanero, Gravellona Toce, direction Omegna/Orta SP229
By train: station Orta-Miasino, line Novara-Domodossola (20’ distance walk to the Sacro Monte) - www.trenitalia.com
By bus: lines for Novara and Domossola - www.comazzibus.com

To the Sacro Monte
With GPS: località Sacro Monte di Orta - 28016 Orta (NO)
Buses: Buses stop at the parking at the foot of the hill
On foot: from Orta San Giulio, 20’ distance walk, sloped, paved, cobbled road with steps
Public transport info: Muoversi in Piemonte

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 Management Authority.

Bus
Buses cannot access the Sacro Monte and must stop at the parking lot below the climbing road. The Sacro Montet can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

Parking
At the Sacro Monte there are parking lots available.

Motor home parking without services
RVs may park in the car spots in the parking lots.
The parking lots along the road for Orta have available RV parking spots.

Difficult access for the disabled
The Sacro Monte of Orta is a monumental complex with inner paths connecting the chapels through steps, cobbled as well as gravel and dirt roads, slopes and architectural barriers.
Disabled individuals who cannot walk or with reduced mobility can access the church of Saint Nicolao by car if equipped with a blue badge.
Once off the vehicle, the vehicle must return and park in the parking area.

Info point
At Chapel 1 you can find info material for free.

Guide-assisted tour
Guided tours to the Sacro Monte of Orta are organized by qualified guides for a fee.

Congress room

At the headquarters of the Nature Reserve is available for a fee an equipped conference room with a capacity of about 70 seats.
The room is disabled-friendly.
The room, equipped with a stereo system and projector connected to PC can be booked for training activities, seminars or conferences.
Rates: € 100.00 (plus VAT) per day or fraction of a day.

Picnic area
Outside and inside the protected area there are spaces fully equipped for picnics.
Camping and starting fires are strictly prohibited and food and drinks are banned in the squares and arcades.

At the Sacro Monte, near Chapel 1 and the info point, there is a vending machine with drinks and snacks.

Toilets
The toilets are located:
- at the square/parking lot
- near the old well / at chapel 18

Disabled-equipped tiolets are located at the lower parking.

Tourist Train

Orta (panoramic view - parking) Sacro Monte, Piazzale Prarondo and Legro.
Info: The Lake Express by Biancato Ermanno Tel 3664099607 / 347 7578097

Religious ceremonies
Church opening hours / closing hours:
08.00 am - 6.00 pm

Religious Service Hours:
Weekdays and before a holiday: 4.00 pm (winter time) 5.00 pm (summer time)
Weekends and Sunday: 11:00 am and 5.00 pm (4:00 pm winter time)