Tuesday 1 May 2018

Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy

Some of these "Sacri Monti" are not very far from where I live, so this weekend I stopped in Domodossola to see the Sacro Monte Calvario, when I returned from lake Maggiore where I visited a good friend who had already gave me a few postcards from this site as a Christmas present last year 


Sacro Monte of Varallo
This postcard was given to me by my friend Barbara


The Sacred Mountain of Varallo (ItalianSacro Monte di Varallo) is a Sacro Monte overlooking the town of Varallo Sesia in the province of VercelliPiedmontnorthern Italy. It is the oldest Sacro Monte, founded in 1491 by Franciscan friar Bernardino Caimi. It is built on a natural terrace on the rocky slopes of Monte Tre Croci ("three crosses mountain"), on the left bank of the Sesia river where it leaves Val Mastallone. It is 600 m above sea level, 150 m above the historic centre of Varallo. - in: wikipedia

Sacro Monte di Orta
This postcard was given to me by my friend Barbara

The Sacro Monte di Orta (literally: "Sacred Mountain of Orta") is a Roman Catholic devotional complex in the comune of Orta San Giulio (Piedmont, northern Italy) on the summit of a hill known as San Nicolao, which faces the western shore of Lake Orta.
Construction of the complex, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, began in 1583. The project by the Capuchin friar Cleto da Castelletto Ticino involved 36 chapels, of which only 20 were built. Until 1630 they were mostly in the Mannerist style, but from the mid-17th century Baroque and other influences predominated. Construction ended in 1788. - in: wikipedia

Sacro Monte di Oropa
This postcard was sent by Steffi

The Sacro Monte di Oropa (literally ‘Sacred Mount of Oropa’) is a Roman Catholic devotional complex in the province of BiellaPiedmont, northern Italy. It is one of the nine Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Construction began in 1617, near the pre-existing sanctuary of Black Virgin of Oropa, one of the oldest in Piedmont and one of the best known in the region of the Alps. The 12 chapels (plus another seven nearby) are united by a devotional path, and inside these chapels scenes from the story of the life of the Virgin Mary are represented. - in: wikipedia

Sanctuary of Oropa
This postcard was sent by Steffi

The Sanctuary of Oropa (Italiansantuario di Oropa), is a group of Roman Catholic buildings and structures in the municipality of BiellaItaly. It is located at a height of 1,159 metres in a small valley of the Alpi Biellesi.
The last building added to the sanctuary was the Upper Basilica, a monumental church built between 1885 and 1960 due the large number of pilgrims visiting Oropa. - in: wikipedia


Sacro Monte Calvario


The Sacred Mount Calvary of Domodossola (also known as Sacro Monte Calvario) is a Roman Catholic sanctuary on the Mattarella Hill, overlooking Domodossola (Piedmont, northern Italy). 


Sacro Monte Calvario
This postcard was given to me by my friend Barbara

It was built in 1657 in response to the wishes of the Capuchin friars, Gioacchino da Cassano and Andrea da Rho. The chapels, dedicated to the Via Crucis, are positioned along a devotional route which starts on the outskirts of Domodossola and ends at the summit of Mount Mattarella.


Sacro Monte Calvario

The sanctuary on the summit was consecrated in 1690 and in 1828 the philosopher priest, Antonio Rosmini, founded the Institute of Charity.


Sacro Monte Calvario

Over the centuries the Sacred Mountain has undergone various modifications, rebuilding and restoration including, in 1957, the wooden statues in chapels 3, 5, 6 and 7. - in: wikipedia

The nine "Sacri Monti" (in red what I have):


  • Sacro Monte of “Nuova Gerusalemme” di Varallo Sesia. Vercelli, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte di S.Maria Assunta di Serralunga di Crea, Alessandria, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte di San Francesco d’Orta San Giulio, Novara, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte del Rosario di Varese, Varese, Lombardy
  • Sacro Monte della Beata Vergine, Oropa, Biella, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte della Beata Vergine del Soccorso, Ossuccio, Como, Lombardy
  • Sacro Monte della SS.Trinità, Ghiffa, Verbania, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte Calvario, Domodossola, Verbania, Piedmont
  • Sacro Monte di Belmonte, Valperga, Canavese, Turin, Piedmont

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