Sacro Monte of Varallo

Among the major sacred sites of Piedmont, Sacro Monte of Varallo is the oldest of the Sacri Monti, created as a ‘New Jerusalem’ where pilgrims could meditate on the life and Passion of Christ. The documentary chronology is distinct from later devotional interpretation. Franciscan Bernardino Caimi initiated the complex in the late 15th century after experience in the Holy Land.

A Holy Sepulchre chapel was in place by 1491, and the complex expanded substantially in later centuries. The principal construction chronology is from the late 15th century with later expansion. The built environment is also important: Pilgrimage landscape of chapels, sculpture and fresco.

The site also has an established heritage context: Component of the UNESCO World Heritage property Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. Its sacred significance is described by the responsible religious institution in devotional terms. The chapels offer devotional re-creations of biblical events rather than claims that those events historically occurred at Varallo.

Regular sacred use includes: Pilgrimage through narrative chapels; Prayer and meditation on the life of Christ. Sacro Monte di Varallo is the site’s official designation. The complex is visited both as a devotional landscape and as a major heritage site.

Outdoor conditions, religious observances and conservation work can affect access, so current information from the managing authority should be checked before travel.