Valsesia valley: Varallo and the Holy Mountain

The oldest and most important pilgrim destination in Piedmont and Lombardy, the Holy Mountain lies 200 m on a rocky plateau over Varallo in Sesia valley and looks like a magnificent mountain theatre. The Holy Mountain was built in 1490 under the Capuchin Francesco Caimo. The greatest artists in northern Italy were active here and the first chapels were built by Gaudenzio Ferrari (disciple of Leonardo da Vinci).The Holy Mountain hosts 44 chapels telling the life of Jesus Christ with frescoes, and wonderful wooden figures. The main square boasts the Pilgrim Church of S. Maria playing host to an array of votive paintings and a chapel to Saint Carlo Borromeo. Varallo houses the renowned cloister S. Maria delle Grazie from the Late Gothic. The cloister hosts magnificent frescoes by Gaudenzio Ferrari, in particular the “New Jerusalem”, displaying the history of the life and the Passion of Christ. We stop off shortly in the beautiful old town of Varallo. On our trip back we stop off in Ghemme for a wine tasting in a castle winery.

Full-day – Duration Approx. 8 hours.

 Including

• 1 Full-day guided tour
• 1 Cableway to the Holy Mountain of Varallo, return
• 1 Visit of a castle winery including wine tasting and snack