The ancient church of the Sacro Monte was built in the late fifteenth century. It was dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and stood where now there is the Hotel Casa del Pellegrino.
In 1614, it was decided to build a new basilica, with the donations of Agostino Beccarla, a nobleman from Pavia, and the alms of the pilgrims. In 1642, the choir was completed and, with a solemn ceremony, the wooden statue of the sleeping Virgin Mary, one of the oldest of the Sacro Monte, was installed. Its first miracle is reported in 1498. The statue was made by Gaudenzio Ferrari, and now is in the little crypt of the Basilica. The nave was built after 1650.
In 1896, the building was completed with the current facade, in an eclectic style. It was financed by Constantino and Julia Durio and designed by the architect Cerutti from Valpiana.
The interior is in Baroque style: the nave was decorated by Francesco Leva and Carlo Penna from Camasco, in 1714. While the presbytery and the choir are by Andrea Cucchi from Milan, and Giovanni Antonio Orgiazzi the Elder (1748-1750). The six side chapels were completed and set up internally between the 18th and early 19th centuries. Their style range from Baroque to Neoclassicism.
The spectacular Baroque terracotta group of the Assumption in Glory is hanged in the choir, surmounted by the Trinity and surrounded by angels and saints. The work is attributed to Dionigi Bussola (1665-1680), a Lombard sculptor who worked at the cathedral of Milan, the Certosa of Pavia and the Sacri Monti of Orta, Domodossola and Varese. Finally, the dome was painted by the Danedi brothers, called the Montaldi.
The basilica is known for its two images of the Virgin Mary. One, typical of the Oriental Church, is the dead Virgin Mary placed in the little crypt. The other, typical of the western tradition, is the Assumption in the choir.