The New Jerusalem: the Sacred Mount of Varallo

 An example of how art can be an instrument for the dissemination of faith.

The Sacro Monte of Varallo Sesia is located in the municipality of Varallo, in Valsesia, province of Vercelli.

The itinerary begins at the church of S. Maria delle Grazie built, together with the convent, at the end of the 15th century, based on an idea of the blessed Franciscan friar Bernardino Caimi. Inside, the partition wall separating the nave from the presbytery was frescoed by the painter Gaudenzio Ferrari with scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, creating a perfect recapitulation of Sacro Monte.

The complex is considered an authentic artistic jewel in the centre of Valsesia and is located on the slopes of Monte Tre Croci, where the Mastallone stream flows into the Sesia River.

The Sacro Monte rises on a rocky wall, about 600 metres above sea level, and consists of the Basilica dell'Assunta, built during the 17th century in Baroque style, and forty-four chapels, some of which are located along the route, while others are included in large monumental complexes.



The ‘New Jerusalem’ of Varallo, considered the symbol of Valsesia, is represented by more than eight hundred splendid statues in wood and polychrome terracotta in the stature of a man, which are set in fully decorated spaces.

The Sacro Monte complex was realised thanks to the help of wealthy local families with the aim of reproducing in that place all the most significant places in Jerusalem, so that they could be ideally visited by all those who did not have the means to travel to the Holy City.

During the era in which Blessed Bernardino Caimi lived, it had become extremely difficult to travel to the Holy Land due to the Turkish presence, and so the friar, rector of the Holy Places in Palestine, recognised the importance of representing the holy places in an allegorical manner.

His plan was continued even after his death in 1500 by the fathers Candido Ranzo and Francesco da Marignano in collaboration with Gaudenzio Ferrari as architect, painter and sculptor.

In the second half of the 16th century, the entire complex was totally reconstructed to highlight the life and passion of Jesus Christ.

The area was divided into two distinct zones: in the first, the chapels are placed uphill, starting with the one dedicated to the story of Adam and Eve, the Earthly Paradise and Original Sin and then continuing by narrating the salient facts of Jesus' life starting with the Annunciation.

The second area, located at the top of the slope, is defined in such a way as to resemble the city of Jerusalem.

Once past the Golden Gate, the path proceeds between palaces with porticoes and squares (that of the Tribunals and that of the Temple) and chapels. Among others, those depicting the Last Supper and the Crucifixion have been depicted in such a realistic manner that the visitor seems to be witnessing a scene that is tangible in every respect.

The list of artists who worked to realise this extraordinary work is very long. Among them are illustrious names such as architects Giovanni d'Enrico, Galeazzo Alessi, Domenico Alfano and Bartolomeo Ravelli; sculptors Tabacchetti and Giovanni d'Enrico; painters Tanzio da Varallo, Morazzone, Pier Francesco Gianoli, Melchiorre Rusca Gherardini and Cristoforo Martinolio, known as ‘il Rocca’.

The Basilica dell'Assunta of Sacro Monte di Varallo dominates the Temple Square with the Fountain of the Risen Christ. Its white façade was completed at the end of the 19th century and is embellished with remarkable bronze doors.

Inside the church, the majestic representation of Paradise stands out, consisting of more than one hundred polychrome terracotta statues around the dome, above the High Altar.

A curiosity: inside the chapel where the ‘Deposition of Jesus from the Cross’ is illustrated, there is a statue representing an old man dressed in the ancient costume of Valsesia.

The Sacro Monte of Varallo, in addition to being part of the cultural heritage of Piedmont, has been declared a World Heritage Site and, consequently, is a UNESCO-protected property.

It is a very interesting and characteristic itinerary, a beautiful place to visit, full of great artistic, cultural and religious significance. It should also be noted that there is a cable car to reach the complex and it is one of the steepest in Europe!

Photo: The Sacro Monte complex in Varallo (from touringclub.it)

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