World Heritage Photos

Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The Sacri Monti are a group of chapels and other architectural features created in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy harmonize with the stunning surrounding landscape of hills, forests and lakes. The Sacred Mountains offered pilgrims a safer pilgrimage as an alternative for the dangerous and expensive pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The nine Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy are: The Sacro Monte di Varallo Sesia, the Sacro Monti di Serralunga di Crea, the Sacro Monti di Orta San Giulio, the Sacro Monti di Varese, the Sacro Monti di Oropa, the Sacro Monti di Ossuccio, the Sacro Monti di Ghiffa, the Sacro Monti di Domodossola and Sacro Monti di Valperga. The Sacri Monti are characteristic for the north Italian culture and spirituality. The phenomenon of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy has strongly influenced all of Europe, two other sacred mountains such as these are the Stiavnica Kalvária in Slovakia and the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in Poland. The Sacred Mountains of Ossuccio and Varese are located about 40 km from the Monte San Giorgio. The Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy were declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2003.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The fourteenth chapel of the Sacro Monte of Varese. The Sacri Monti consists of a group of chapels and other architectural features created in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: At the top of the Sacro Monte of Varese. In the 16th century, the Bishop of Milan promoted the plan for a huge network of chapels and devotional sites in the mountains of Piemont and Lombardy, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) officially recognized the importance of the Sacred Mountains.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The bell tower of the Sacro Monte of Varese. The Sacri Monti are typically for the spirituality and culture in northern Italy, the construction of the Sacred Mountains started in the medieval time to offer a safer pilgrimage experience as an alternative for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: A two kilometers long pebbled path leads to the top of the Sacro Monte del Rosario. The Sacro Monte del Rosario, the Holy Mount of the Rosary, in Varese is one of the nine Sacred Mountains which gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2003.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: One of the chapels of the Sacro Monte di Varese, the sacred mount is composed of fifteen chapels. The interior of the chapels is decorated with statues and frescoes. The statues and frescoes testify to the major currents in sacred art in and around Milan during the 17th century.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: At the top of the Sacro Monte of Varese stands the 15th chapel. The façade of the chapel is adorned with four Ionic columns, the niche contains a statue of Moses. The 15th chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: At the top of the Sacro Monte (Holy Mountain) of Varese stands the Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, that acts as the 15th chapel. The Baroque marble altar was made in 1660-1690, the altar is adorned with a 14th century painting on wood, depicting the Madonna del Monte, 

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The sumptuous decorated ceiling of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Del Monte, the 15th chapel of the Sacred Mountain of Varese. The chapel houses the statue of a Black Madonna, for centuries, the destination of many pilgrims. Every chapel represents one of the mysteries of the life of Jesus.

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   Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The Sacro Monte di Varese is composed of the 2 km long Via Sacra, the Sacred Way, and 15 chapels, the 15th chapel at the top is the sanctuary of Santa Maria Del Monte, the chapels are decorated with frescoes and groups of statues, they depict the lives of Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saints.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The Sacro Monte di Varese was already a pilgrimage destination since the founding of the Church of Santa Maria del Monte and the Monastery of the Secluded Ambrosian Monks in 1474. In 1604, the church and monastery were rebuilt into the Sacro Monte as we know today.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: All the fifteen chapels of the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio, are overlooking Lake Como. The sacred mountain is surrounded by woods, orange trees and olive groves. The phenomenon of the Sacri Monti has influenced all of Europe.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: All the chapels of the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio, are adorned with wall paintings and statues in stucco and terracotta, the 230 statues are almost life size. The fifteen chapels are dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is situated on the slopes of the Sacred Mountain of Ossuccio. Fourteen chapels are situated along the Sacred Way which leads to the 15th chapel, a much older sanctuary on the summit of the mountain.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The interior of one of the chapels of the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio, the 14 chapels of the sacred mountain were built from 1635 to 1710, the 15th chapel, the Madonna del Soccorso, is situated at the top of the mountain, this chapel was already built around 1532. 

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: One of the chapels of the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio. The sacred mountain is situated on a steep rocky slope immediately behind Ossuccio, a small village on the western shores of Lake Como in the north of Italy.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The decorated ceiling of the Madonna del Soccorso, the 15th chapel on top of the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio. The chapel is situated 419 metres above sea level. The Sacred Mount of Ossuccio is facing Isola Comacina, the only island in Lake Como.

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    Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy - Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy: The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio, is situated on a spectacular location on the shores of Lake Como and is overlooking the village of Ossuccio. The mountain is surrounded by olive orchards.