UNESCO SACRI MONTI: ART NATURE AND SPIRITUALITY

01 April - 31 October 2025
5 days - 4 nights

The UNESCO Sacri Monti itinerary offers a spiritual and cultural journey through some of the most picturesque places of Piedmont. These devotional complexes, built between the 16th and 17th century are immersed in natural breathtaking scenery and are a unique combination of art, faith and nature.

The Sacri Monti are composed by a series of chapels and sanctuaries, adorned by frescoes and sculptures which tell episodes of the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Saints. Each leg of the route allows you to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of spiritual contemplation while you explore the architectural and artistic masterpieces harmoniously inserted into the natural surrounding context.

Each site offers not only a religious experience but also a magnificent opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the area, with panoramas which range from the Alps to the lakes, offering insights for reflection and contemplation.

day 1
Arrive in Cella Monte, one of the most beautiful villages of Italy.
Walking along the narrow streets of the village, which appears like an open-air museum, you will see shells in the walls. This is because the area was once covered by sea, millions of years ago, and the hills of Monferrato were its archipelagos.
As the water retreated the sandstone remained, with which the houses, buildings and UNESCO heritage site infernots were built.


These underground chambers dug into the sandstone rock, locally called 'Pietra da cantone', keep the temperature and humidity constant all year thanks to the particular geological characteristics of the soil of marine origin. They were used to store food and were an added space to the cellars. They are the precious inheritance of the rural tradition, small hidden treasures which have been inscribed in the UNESCO heritage list.
Visit the Ecomuseum of Pietra da Cantone followed by a visit to an historical winery and its private infernot with wine tasting.
Dinner at leisure and accommodation in resort of the area.

day 2
In the heart of Monferrato, on the top of a hill surrounded by a beautiful vine covered landscape, rises the Sacro Monte of Crea, founded in 1589: a religious itinerary inspired by the Sacro Monte of Varallo, to encourage prayer and meditation and to renew the Marian devotion connected with the Sanctuary, pilgrim destination of significant importance since the 11th century.

The UNESCO heritage site stands on a site of ancient Marian worship and comprises the Sanctuary. 23 chapels and 5 hermitages. The most spectacular is Chapel 23 the "Coronation of the Virgin", commonly called "Il Paradiso" which dates to 1589: it is the highest chapel of the Sacro Monte and the interior is filled with groups of figures hanging and frescoed on the vault, approximately 300 in total, work by the Flemish Nicola De Wespin. The Sanctuary has an imposing Baroque door, on the inside it features the Wooden Statue of the Black Madonna of Crea, highly venerated and object of pilgrimages since the 13th century. Lunch in restaurant.

In the afternoon, arrive in Biella, historical textile district of Piedmont, UNESCO Creative City since 2019.
A guide will take you on a visit of the historic centre, with the characteristic Cathedral in neo-Gothic style, dedicated to Santo Stefano, and the Baptistery of the 9th century, symbol of the town. The visit will continue to the medieval district of Biella Piazzo, the high part of the town, reachable by Cableway. From the cobblestone streets of the Piazzo, besides the scenic points, it will be possible to admire the historical buildings with the characteristic arcades. Finish with a guided tour to discover the production of beer and local cheeses.
Check in to hotel, dinner and accommodation.

day 3
Breakfast in Hotel.
Transfer to Oropa for a guided tour of the UNESCO heritage site of Sacro Monte of Oropa, with the monumental cemetery and the 19 chapels, dedicated to the life of Our Lady and the episodes of Christian faith.
The large sanctuary complex stands at an altitude of 1200 meters, in a valley at the foot of a scenic mountain backdrop, with two basilicas, Antica and Superiore, preceded by large courtyards flanked by buildings and arcades. The origin of the sanctuary is connected, like the Sanctuary of Madonna di Crea, to the presence of St. Eusebio, evangelizer from eastern Piedmont and first bishop of Vercelli. In the second half of the 4th century the saint placed a wooden statue of Our Lady in a cave to protect it from Aryan invaders. The statue had been sculpted by Saint Luke who had brought it with him from Palestine.
Lunch at restaurant with typical menu.
In the early afternoon, guided tour of the Sanctuary dedicated to the Black Madonna, and of the Museum of Treasures, through which it will be possible to access the Royal Apartments of the Savoia family.
In the late afternoon, return to Biella for dinner and accommodation.

day 4
After breakfast transfer to Varallo. Accompanied by our guide we will visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and then climb to the Sacro Monte by cable car.

The Sacro Monte of Varallo may be considered a park-garden, a large rural Via Crucis, which runs on the slope of a hill, but it also has the appearance of a fortified town built on a steep rocky wall, with its boundary wall, the monumental entrance door, the two squares, civil and religious, which emulate those of the ancient city of Jerusalem, porticoed palazzi and rows of columns, real palazzi and real squares. It is not a town inhabited by people but by paintings and statues (more than eight hundred): the Sacro Monte is sacred story, theater, art, architecture, garden and wood. From the early 16th century, with the work of the great artist Gaudenzio Ferrari from Valsesia, the scenes were populated by life-size, three-dimensional sculptures, with colorful clothing, beards and hair, inserted into the painted settings which are compelling and highly persuasive.

Descend along a picturesque route on foot (15/20 minutes) or by cable car.
Lunch at leisure and free time to walk along the medieval streets of the town to discover the characteristic craft shops or visit the Art Gallery.
Dinner in centrally-located hotel and accommodation.

day 5
After breakfast, depart for Lake Orta. The Sacro Monte of Orta is set in an extraordinary scenic area, on a wooded promontory jutting into lake Orta. Twenty chapels immersed in nature illustrate the episodes of life of Saint Francis, with sculptures and paintings distributed along a route which winds its way up the top of the mountain, with magnificent views of the lake and island of San Giulio. The beauty of the landscape, the silence and the harmonious relationship between art, architecture and nature fully reflect the Franciscan spirituality.
Transfer to Orta San Giulio. Lunch at leisure and end of services.

Holiday formula:
Individuals, Groups

Guided tour:
Yes

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CONFIDENTIAL & B2B RATES: on demand

Technical Directors
Monferrato Travel by Monferrato to Taste (P.IVA 03936680044)
Dafne Viaggi (P.IVA 03463700108)
IC World (P.IVA 09178850013)

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