The Fourteen Chapels of the Sacro Monte di Varese

Why not take a journey through time and the spirit, and discover the hidden wonders of the Sacro Monte di Varese? This site, one of the “Sacri Monti” [Sacred Mountains] on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is steeped in history, worship, and art, and offers a spiritual and artistic route visiting the fourteen chapels that reproduce the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Each one is an architectural and religious masterpiece and together, they create a unique journey. They embody religious faith and were built over the centuries to show episodes from the life of Jesus Christ. They are also an extraordinary expression of art, created by great artists and architects.
This itinerary will show you more of the history of these chapels, exploring their deep spiritual importance and looking in greater detail at the stunning artworks they contain. What makes it unique is its ability to transport visitors into a world suspended between heaven and earth, between the sacred and the profane. Visiting these fourteen chapels allows you to experience the ancient traditions of pilgrimage and contemplation, immersed in the mystical atmosphere of the Sacro Monte.
Get ready for an extraordinary experience that will take you on a journey through the history of the chapels on the Sacro Monte di Varese.

Chapel One - Annunciation — The First Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese is the chapel of the Annunciation, dedicated to the first joyful mystery of the Rosary, and it represents the start of the grand Via Sacra [Holy Way].

Scopri di più

Chapel Two - Visitation — The Second Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese is dedicated to the Visitation. Built in 1605, from designs by Giuseppe Bernascone, the chapel has a rectangular layout and it is positioned parallel to the Via Sacra, which is why visitors first see the right side of the building and its sundial.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Three - Nativity — The Third Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese is dedicated to the Nativity and was built in 1605. It features grandiose architecture that reflects the importance of the event represented. The chapel is oval in shape with a large portico at the entrance, which serves a dual purpose, both as a space for reflection and a shelter for pilgrims.

Scopri di più

Chapel Four – Presentation at the Temple — The Fourth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Presentation at the Temple, is the work of Giuseppe Bernascone. Its panoramic position on the bend leading up to the Fifth Chapel, offers a view out on the Olona Valley, blending perfectly into the surrounding atmosphere.

Scopri di più

Chapel Five – The Finding of Jesus in the Temple — The Fifth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, is an imposing building at the top of a steep road from the Fourth Chapel, and offers views over Varese. The people of Varese were responsible for its construction, although the donations came in slowly and the building was only completed in 1623, after works began in 1607.

Scopri di più

Chapel Six - Jesus Praying in the Garden — The Sixth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, shows the first of the Sorrowful Mysteries. The building features a sober architectural style with rectangular main structure, a portico decorated with an elegant curved top, and an oval apse on the back. The chapel stands on a terrace with balustrade, and its position required complex work of engineering, supervised by the architect, Bernascone, for over twenty years.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Seven - The Scourging at the Pillar — The Seventh Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Scouring at the Pillar, was one of the first to be completed in 1609, thanks to the noble patrons of the arts, Francesco and Girolamo Litta.

Scopri di più

Chapel Eight - The Crowning with the Thorns — The Eighth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Crowning with the thorns, features an octagonal layout and a cylindrical structure with windows. Steps at the side invite visitors to go up to the portico. To the sides of the chapel are two more windows, following a layout already used on other chapels in the area.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Nine - Jesus Climbs the Calvary — The Ninth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to Jesus Climbing the Calvary, has a stairway into the house and a portico with three arches on columns, but the stand-out element is the now damaged fresco of the Ecce Homo, completed in 1686 by Milanese artist, Stefano Maria Legnani.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Ten - The Crucifixion — The Tenth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Crucifixion of Christ, completed in 1623, stands at the top of a long climb, which ends just before turning suddenly to the right. Visitors are immediately struck by the large portico occupying the entire width of the chapel.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Eleven - The Resurrection — The Eleventh Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ and finished before 1622, has a slender structure with a façade that is parallel to the road, and a portico with arches, of which the one in the centre is the widest. The chapel entrance is at the top of a stairway leading to a window with three lights. .
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Twelth: the Ascension of Christ — The Twelfth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Ascension of Christ and built after 1624, stands out for its strategic position along the Via Sacra. The façade is slightly turned to the left, suggesting the continuation of the road past the chapel, creating a considerable scenographic effect.
(Ph: Antonio Zaffaroni)

Scopri di più

Chapel Thirteen - The Descent of the Holy Spirit — The Thirteenth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Pentecost, is a notable architectural example. Built after 1624, it stands out for its central position along the Via Sacro. Its octagonal layout and large portico invite pilgrims to explore the scene of the Pentecost depicted inside the chapel itself.

Scopri di più

Chapel Fourteen - The Assumption of Mary — The Fourteenth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. It was built in 1610 and is the final stage in the Via Sacra, since the fifteenth mystery is located inside the sanctuary.

Scopri di più

Welcome to Cremona!

Cremona is for everyone

Art & Culture

Autumn trip to villas and castles

An autumn adventure of history & beauty: explore the autumn charm of Lombardy's villas and castles.

Art & Culture

The Winter Songs

The legend of the coldest days in the year

Art & Culture

Seven castles in Lombardy

From Lake Garda to Valtellina by way of Milan. Among crenellated walls, towers and porticoed loggias

Art & Culture

Milan and Lake Como

Milan, city of a thousand histories. Plus, a trip to Lake Como

Art & Culture

Strolling through Milan's southeastern agricultural park

Art & Culture

Arlecchino and Brighella

Famous masks of the Italian Carnival tradition

Art & Culture

Alessandro Manzoni Itinerary

Lombardy blends nature and culture in an itinerary that will take you to the locations of his famous novel The Betrothed

Art & Culture

THE ISLAND OF THE MONASTERIES

Art & Culture

The leonardo ferryboat in imbersago

Art & Culture

Visit Villa Reale di Monza

A real journey through history from the Habsburgs to the Savoy.

Art & Culture

Monument Sondrio

Historical, artistic, traditional Sondrio in its many monuments ... and a railway station from which a special train departs

Art & Culture

Milan Design

Not just Salone: where design lives

Art & Culture

The magic of Varesotto's castles

A tour of Varesotto's castles: an itinerary to discover a regional area where time seems to stand still.

Art & Culture

Lombardy in 5 Castles

Impregnable fortresses, with enchanting lake views, legends of ghosts. Five castles in Lombardy to be visited

Art & Culture

Monuments Lodi

In the center of Lodi you can see buildings and monuments that are real architectural and decorative jewels

Art & Culture

Lombardy's highest steeples and bell towers

There are four bell towers from which to admire the region's beautiful landscapes and squares, all of them over 90 metres high

Art & Culture

Urban sculptures and works of art: Lombardy's open-air museum

Lesser known statues, monuments, and works of art, concealed within the streets and piazzas of Lombardy's cities: a prestigious artistic heritage is waiting to be discovered

Art & Culture

Museums Monza

From the Treasure of the Cathedral to the MEMB, there are many museums where you can discover local history, art and culture

Art & Culture

The villages of the Lower Valtellina between adventure and relaxation

Art & Culture