Sacro Monte di Varese

The Sacro Monte di Varese (literally ‘Sacred Mount of Varese’) is one of the nine sacri monti in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont which were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2003. It has an altitude of 807 metres above sea-level.

Sacred Mountain of Varese Sacro Monte di Varese Santuario di Santa Maria del Monte
The 10th chapel, beyond the St Ambrose arch, and Santa Maria del Monte atop the mountain
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Varese
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	National monument
Status	Active
Location
Location	Varese, Italy
Geographic coordinates	45.860361°N 8.793222°E / 45.860361; 8.793222
Architecture
Type	Church
Groundbreaking	1596
Completed	1604
Website
http://www.sacromontevarese.net/it/info-turistiche

The Sacro Monte of Varese is located a few kilometers from the city in the frazione Santa Maria del Monte. It is nestled in the regional park "Campo dei Fiori" which literally translates to "Field of Flowers". It consists of the Holy Road and the Sanctuary, as well as the small medieval village surrounding the Sanctuary. The Holy Road with its 14 chapels, rise up the mountain to the little village of Santa Maria del Monte and it ends with the Sanctuary (15th chapel) dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The rise is 2 kilometers along on a cobblestone path, and every chapel represents one of the Mysteries of Jesus Christ's life. You can find at the mountaintop the Sanctuary, the Cloister of Monache Romite Ambrosiane, The Museo Baroffio e del Santuario, the Casa Museo Lodovico Pogliaghi, the permanent nativity scene, and different restaurants, bars, a pizzeria, three hotels and a bed & breakfast.

The 5th chapel

The recently restored Vellone-Sacro Monte funicular operates between a parking lot at the first chapel "Prima Cappella" and the top of Sacro Monte on Saturdays and Sundays throughout most of the year.

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