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

Museums Brescia

Brescia: the ideal destination for those who love art. Countless opportunities to visit exhibitions and to attend cultural events

Art & Culture

A Welcome Card to visit Cremona

Your Sightseeing Pass

Art & Culture

Lombardy, land of science and engineering

A journey of discovery through the history of technology in Lombardy

Art & Culture

Milan and Lake Como

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

Art & Culture

Bergamo in a weekend

A perfect square, the masterpieces of the Carrara Academy, the Venetian Walls Unesco World Heritage Site. Discover Bergamo!

Art & Culture

Brianza Villas Itinerary

Art & Culture

Museums Como

Great museum offer in Como. From the first communities on the territory to the thematic museums

Art & Culture

The Longobard heritage of Pavia

A journey of discovery to uncover the ancient civilisation of the Longobards through the history of the city of Pavia.

Art & Culture

Five Art Refuges in the City

We can reveal some of the finest, most beautiful spaces that perhaps you did not know about

Art & Culture

Discovering Pordenone

Prosegue il percorso condiviso con le città di Piacenza e Pordenone

Art & Culture

The sound of Stradivari

Live performances with the instruments of the collections of the Violin’s Museum.

Art & Culture

Visit the interactive exhibit Leonardo3. The World of Leonardo

Discover the works of Leonardo Da Vinci as you've never seen before

Art & Culture

A day in the life of Leonardo

Art and more: discover a world of intrigue and passions

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

Milan Design

Not just Salone: where design lives

Art & Culture

Cremona, le Botteghe di liuteria

Maestri del legno e del violino. Botteghe storiche e collezioni. La liuteria a Cremona è patrimonio culturale immateriale Unesco dal 2012

Art & Culture

Bergamo Upper City

Medieval atmosphere on the top of a hill

Art & Culture

Museums Cremona

The museums, a meeting with the culture and with the history of Cremona

Art & Culture

Bergamo Città Bassa

Glimpses of ancient villages along the main communication routes between the upper city and the territory

Art & Culture

Bergamo Bassa

In Bergamo the visit starts from the bottom of the town, from its historic villages, and goes on by climbing slowly

Art & Culture