The new Jerusalem of the Alps
On the rocky spur overlooking the town of Varallo, at the end of the fifteenth century the Franciscan friar Bernardino Caimi designed a small Holy Land. He built simple, rural edifices, meant to re-create the main landmarks of Jerusalem linked to the life of Christ and to evoke the events occured in those places, with images, paintings or statues made since 1486.
In the early sixteenth-century, the renown painter and sculptor Gaudenzio Ferrari produced spectacular life-size statues, decorated with colourful clothes, beards and hair, located within the chapels built by Caimi. The extreme realism of these scenes, associated with illusionistic wall-paintings, deeply involved the beholder in the sacred drama and became the model for all the chapels built in the following centuries.
After 1565 the Sacro Monte was expanded and remodelled, following the project of the famous late-Renaissance architect Galeazzo Alessi, who collected his drawings for the Sacro Monte in a book known as 'Libro dei Misteri' (Book of the Misteries of Christ’s life). Even though it was only partially executed, the project by Alessi was the starting point for all subsequent development.
During the Counter-Reformation, thanks to the intervention of the Bishop of Novara Carlo Bascapé and his successors, the Sacro Monte turned in a sort of petrified religious theatre, aiming at illustrating a morally uplifting sacred history, by the means of life-size paintings and statues inspired by the works of Gaudenzio Ferrari. The stunning realism of the scenes transformed the chapels into snapshots of real life, produced by prominent artist and such as Tabacchetti, the Fiammenghini, Morazzone, Tanzio da Varallo, Giovanni d’Enrico, Pier Francesco Gianoli, Dionigi Bussola, Giovanni Battista Bernero and Benedetto Alfieri.
The Sacro Monte is also a park-garden, a great rural Way of the Cross climbing up the hill. At the same time, it has the appearance of an ancient fortified city built on a rocky hill, with walls, monumental gates, two squares - civic and religious -, porticoed palaces and piazzas, inhabited by statues and painted characters. The Sacro Monte is theater, art, architecture, garden and forest.
Info utili
How to get
To Varallo
By plane: Milano Malpensa
By car: A4 + A26 (E62), exit Romagnano-Ghemme, direction SP 299 to Varallo/Alagna Valsesia
By train: Torino-Milano line stations of Novara and Vercelli + bus - www.trenitalia.com
By Bus: direct connections from/to Milan, Turin, Vercelli, Novara
Info public transport: Muoversi in Piemonte
To the Sacro Monte
By car and bus, follow the indications for Crosa and Camasco
With GPS: destination località Sacro Monte di Varallo - 13019 Varallo (VC)
Buses: to the Sacro Monte are subject to toll payment - Tel. +39 0163 562727
Cableway: direct connection Varallo-Sacro Monte
On foot: pedestrian path to Varallo-Sacro Monte (20’ distance), cobbled and sloped road
Public transport info: Muoversi in Piemonte
Tourist Services
Road
The Sacro Monte can be reached by car from Varallo following the signs toward the hamlet of Crosa.
The historic area cannot be accessed by motor vehicles or bicycles, except for vehicles authorized by the Management Authority.
Bus (limited access)
BUS ACCESS to the Z.T.L of the Sacro Monte of Varallo
From 15/07/2020 due to the DELIBERATION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL N. 79 OF 29/06/2020, “access to buses is prohibited”, with the exception of the following two exceptions and without prejudice to the possibility of accompanying people with disabilities free of charge in accordance with the law:
• € 150.00 (one hundred and fifty) for buses whose passengers book and eat a meal in any of the Restaurants of Varallo;
• € 50.00 (fifty) for buses whose passengers stay overnight at the Sacro Monte;
Payment can be made by cash at the Caffè della Stazione in Varallo (former railway station), at the Vecchio Albergo del Sacro Monte in the hamlet of the Sacro Monte or by wire transfer to the post office current account No. 15911134 specifying as beneficiary the Municipality of Varallo (indicating, as reason for payment, "Bus access to the Sacro Monte").
For information:
Municipal Police of the town of Varallo: Tel. +39 0163 562727
Società Monterosa 2000 Spa Tel. +39 0163 564391 - E-mail info@monterosa2000.it
To reach the Sacro Monte by bus follow the signs for the hamlet of Crosa
Cableway
The Sacro Monte is connected to Varallo by a fast cableway open all year long.
Hours of operation
Summer (01/04/2019 - 26/10/2019): 9.00 - 18.00
Winter (27/10/2019 - 31/03/2020): 9.00 - 17.00
TIMETABLE CHANGES
from 01/10/2019 to 22/12/2019: Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
from 23/12/2019 to 06/01/2020: Christmas holidays, open every day
dal 07/10/2020 al 31/03/2020: Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
rates (per person):
Non-residents in the municipality of Varallo
- Round trip ticket € 5.00
- groups (over 20 people) € 4.00
- one way € 3.00
for those who reside in the municipality of Varallo
- Round trip ticket € 2.00
- One way € 1.50
Info:
Varallo - Sacro Monte cable railway
Tel. +39 0163 564391
E-mail: info@monterosa2000.it
Parking
At the Sacro Monte there are parking lots equipped with a parking meter.
Motor home parking without services
RVs may park in the car spots in the parking lots.
An equipped parking area is available in Varallo at the Campo dei Frati square (via D'Adda).
Info: Municipal Police of the Municipality of Varallo - Phone +39 0163 562727
Difficult access for the disabled
The Sacro Monte of Varallo is a monumental complex with inner paths connecting the chapels through steps, cobbled as well as gravel and dirt roads, slopes and architectural barriers.
In 2006, a route connecting the entrance square (Piazza Testori) and the basilica was built, crossing the two historic squares. The disabled can access the two squares of the Sacri Monti and the Basilica by following the route shown on the map. In case of need, they can access on a vehicle displaying a blue badge. Access by car to the historical area of the Sacro Monte must always be booked in advance. Once off the vehicle, it must be parked in the parking area.
Access by car to the historical area requires the use of a lift whose use is not recommended outside the business hours of the security staff. In case of emergency, contact the company De Zuani P.I. Diego Ascensori, Tel. + 39 347 2399423
The Sacri Monti Management Authority is not responsible for inconveniences.
Elevator
Located along the narrow road leading to the cable railway, it is part of the route for the disabled and makes it possible, after prior notice to the Security staff of the Nature Reserve, to access the historical area of the Sacred Mount and the basilica.
Technical data: the lift can transport vehicles with the following maximum characteristics: width: 225 cm; height: 270 cm; length/depth: 470 cm; weight/capacity: 4000.
Info point
The info point of the Nature Reserve of the Sacred Mount of Varallo is located at the Park Security in Casina d'Adda and provides, during opening hours to the public (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m./ 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.), tourist information and brochures.
Bookshop
A shop with souvenirs and info material is located in the square of the Basilica. The store is open seasonally and it is closed on Mondays.
Info: Episcopal administration - Phone +39 0163 51131
Guide-assisted tour
The guided tours of the Sacro Monte of Varallo, organized by the company Kalatà S.r.l.,are available on:
Saturday and Sunday, from May to November
from July and August every day except Mondays:
Information: Duration: 1h 45 min. Rates: EUR 12 (full price) - EUR 8 (discounted) Age limits: none
- Guided tour and round trip by cable railway included in the ticket
- Foreign language audio-guides included in the ticket
- Ticket office located inside the Picture-Gallery Museum of Varallo
- Free parking at the cable railway departure station
- Comfortable clothing and low and closed footwear are recommended
- The tour trail is partially walkable even by those who have walking problems
Info: ticket purchase: www.kalata.it
Booking: booking@kalata.it – +39 331/8490075 – +39 0163/564404
Audio guides / App
An audio guide service in Italian and English can be rented at the book-shop and the park offices.The rental cost is € 3.00. Guided tours to the Sacro Monte of Varallo are organized by qualified guides for a fee.
Didactics
The Management Authority offers educational programs 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
Congress room
Just before the monumental entrance of the Sacro Monte, on the 2nd floor of the info point in Casina D'adda, a conference room with 92 seats is available. The room, equipped with a stereo system and projector connected to PC can be booked for training activities, seminars or conferences, within the business hours.
Rates: € 100.00 (plus VAT) per day or fraction of a day.
Restaurant
At the Sacro Monte of Varallo there are some refreshment points:
Vecchio Albergo Sacro Monte (*)
regione Sacro Monte n.14 - 13019 Varallo (VC)
Tel. +39 0163 54254
E-mail: info@albergosacromonte.it
www.albergosacromonte.it
La Casa del Pellegrino di Elisabetta Azzaro
Regione Sacro Monte 3 - Piazza Giovanni Paolo II
13019 VARALLO (VC)
Tel.: +39 3381910896
E-mail: info@lacasadelpellegrino.eu
Web site: www.lacasadelpellegrino.eu
Kiosk
Località Sacro Monte - Piazza Testori
Picnic area
Inside and outside the protected area there are areas fully equipped for picnics.
Camping and starting fires are strictly prohibited and food and drinks are banned in the squares and porticoes.
Hospitality - rooms
Vecchio Albergo Sacro Monte (*)
regione Sacro Monte n.14 - 13019 Varallo (VC)
Tel. +39 0163 54254
E-mail: info@albergosacromonte.it
www.albergosacromonte.it
La Casa del Pellegrino di Elisabetta Azzaro
Regione Sacro Monte 3 - Piazza Giovanni Paolo II
13019 VARALLO (VC)
Tel.: +39 3381910896
E-mail: info@lacasadelpellegrino.eu
Web site: www.lacasadelpellegrino.eu
Istituto Suore Orsoline del Sacro Monte di Varallo
Tel. +39 0163 71586
Toilets
The Toilets are located:
- at the first parking
- behind chapel No. 25, in front of chapel No.14.
- in piazza della Basilica, under chapel No. 38
Toilets for Disabled
Disabled-friendly restrooms are located:
- at the first parking
- behind chapel No. 25, in front of chapel No.14.
Religious Service Hours
Weekends: Mass 9:30 am - 11:30 am - 5:00 pm - Rosary 4:30 pm
Weekdays: Mass 8:00 am - 5:00 pm - Rosary and Vespers 4:30 pm
Confessions: 9:00 am / 12:20 pm / 2:30 pm / 6:00 pm
Basilica opening / closing hours:
8:30 am – 12:20 pm
2:15 pm – 6:30 pm
For more information: Padri Oblati – Phone +39 0163 51131
Local Tourist Info
Tourist Office ATL Valsesia Vercelli corso Roma, 38 - 13019 Varallo (VC)
Tel. +39 0163 564404
E-mail: info@atlvalsesiavercelli.it
www.atlvalsesiavercelli.it
