The Sacro Monte of Orta

A Franciscan Holy Mountain: peace, nature and spirituality

VISIT THE SACRO MONTE WITH THE UNESCO SACRI MONTI NEW APP

GUIDED TOURS AT THE SACRO MONTE DI ORTA ORGANISED BY THE RECEPTION OFFICE OF THE SACRI MONTI MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY:
Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am and 2:00pm.
Reservation recommended.
Meeting point: Info Point at Chapel nr. 1,
five minutes before the start of the tour.
Feel free to make a donation.
Info:
info.orta@sacri-monti.com
tel. + 39 331 206 77 75

CHAPELS OPENING/CLOSING TIMES
FROM 26/10/2025 TO 28/3/2026:
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:00pm;
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
FROM 29/3/2026 TO 24/10/2026:
Monday to Friday from 9:30am. to 6:00pm;
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:30am to 6:30pm.

The Chapels are open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Jan. 6th and Jan. 31th.

CHURCH
The church is open daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Masses times:
weekdays, Saturdays and days before public holidays at 5:00pm;
Sundays and public holidays at 11:00am and 5:00pm.
For further information: tel. + 39 0322 90149

THE SACRO MONTE DI ORTA
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 may only be reached by car: camper vans and buses are not permitted to access the Sacro Monte car parks.
Motorcycles, bicycles and electric scooters are not permitted to access the historic area, unless authorised by the Sacri Monti Management Authority.

PARKINGS (for cars only)
Pay and display parking from 9:00 to 24:00; hourly rate €2; daily rate €10; free from 15 December to 31 December; from 1 January to 28 February, payment is required only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The Sacri Monti Management Authority wishes to inform the visitors that the funds raised from parking fees will be used for the restoration and enhancement of the cultural and landscape heritage of the Sacri Monti.
Campervans and buses are not allowed in the Sacro Monte car parks, but may park along the road to Orta, where there are dedicated parking spaces.
The Sacro Monte can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

BUSES AND CAMPERVANS
Buses and campervans are not permitted to access the Sacro Monte car parks; they may park along the road to Orta, where there are dedicated parking spaces.
Sacro Monte can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

TIMETABLES
CHAPELS OPENING/CLOSING TIMES
FROM 26/10/2025 TO 28/3/2026:
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:00pm;
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
FROM 29/3/2026 TO 24/10/2026:
Monday to Friday from 9:30am. to 6:00pm;
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:30am to 6:30pm.

The Chapels are open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Jan. 6th and Jan. 31th.

Church
The church is open daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Masses times:
weekdays, Saturdays and days before public holidays at 5:00pm;
Sundays and public holidays at 11:00am and 5:00pm.
For further information: tel. + 39 0322 90149

DIFFICULT ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED
The Sacro Monte di Orta is a monumental complex with internal paths connecting the chapels, featuring steps, cobblestones, paving stones, gravel and dirt roads, sloping passages and architectural barriers.
Disabled persons who are unable to walk or have reduced mobility can access the church of San Nicolao with a vehicle equipped with a disabled badge.
After getting out of the car, the vehicle must be returned to the parking areas.

INFO AND RECEPTION POINT

Near the Chapel n° 1, at the Info Point you can find information material, receive directions for self-guided visits, and enjoy the guided tours (booking recommended) held by the employees of the Sacred Mounts management authority – at the end of the guided tour, feel free to make a donation for restoring the Chapels.
info:
E-mail info.orta@sacri-monti.com
Tel. + 39 331 206 77 75

GUIDED TOURS
The Reception Office of the Sacred Mountains Management Authority organises guided tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am and 2:00pm.
Booking recommended.

At the end of the tour, feel free to make a donation for restoring the Chapels.

For information, please contact the staff at the Info Point near the Chapel n° 1:
Email info.orta@sacri-monti.com
Tel. + 39 331 20 67 775

You can always visit the Sacro Monte independently with the UNESCO Sacred Mountains new app.

You can contact licensed tour guides on the National Tourist Guide Platform (ref. Law No. 190 of 13 December 2023) on the Ministry of Tourism website at the following link: https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/piattaforma-nazionale-delle-guide-turistiche/

CONGRESS ROOM
A conference room with a capacity of approximately 50 seats is available for hire at the Reserve headquarters.
The room is also accessible to disabled people. The room, equipped with an amplification and projection system with PC connections, can be booked for training, seminars or conferences during the working hours of the Sacro Monte di Orta Reserve staff.
Rates: € 100.00 (plus VAT) per day or fraction of a day.
For information, please write to
http://info.orta@sacri-monti.com

PICNIC AREAS
Outside the protected area, there are picnic areas which are marked on the maps located at the entrance. Eating and drinking is prohibited within the protected area (under the porticoes of the chapels, along the avenues, in the open spaces, etc.). Camping and lighting fires are prohibited everywhere, both inside and outside the protected area.

TOILETS
The toilets are located
- at the parking lot;
- near the old well, close to Chapel nr. 18.
Disabled-equipped toilets are located at the lower parking.

TOURIST TRAIN-SHUTTLE
The tourist train-shuttle is a private service available for a fee, connecting Orta (panoramic road - parking lot), the Sacro Monte, Piazzale Prarondo and the hamlet of Legro.
Info:
The Lake Express sas di Biancato Ermanno
Tel +39 366 40 99 607 / +39 347 75 78 097