Why Renaissance pilgrims climbed Italian mountains to visit a miniature Jerusalem

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, architects in northern Italy transformed mountain slopes into sacred landscapes. These nine sites, known as Sacri Monti, were designed to offer pilgrims a physical journey through the life of Christ, blending intricate art and architecture with the natural beauty of forests and lakes.

The concept of the Sacro Monte, or Sacred Mountain, emerged in the late fifteenth century as a devotional complex. These sites were intentionally built on high ground, removed from town centers, to provide a serene environment for reflection. By constructing a series of chapels and kiosks along a pilgrimage path, creators sought to re-evoke the Via Dolorosa—the route in Jerusalem where Christ carried the Cross. This architectural strategy allowed pilgrims who could not travel to the Holy Land to experience a symbolic version of the New Jerusalem closer to home.

Each of the nine sites recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2003 features a collection of chapels housing wall paintings and statuary that depict scenes from the lives of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or various saints. The earliest of these, the Sacro Monte of Nuova Gerusalemme in Varallo Sesia, dates back to 1486. Throughout the following centuries, the movement expanded across the provinces of Piedmont and Lombardy, with sites like the Sacro Monte of the Rosary in Varese and the Sacro Monte of the Blessed Virgin of Oropa becoming central to the regional landscape.

The influence of this model extended far beyond Italy, spreading across Europe and into the New World during the Counter-Reformation. The sites are celebrated today not only for their religious significance but for the skill with which they were integrated into the natural topography of hills and lakes. From the 1589 founding of the site at Serralunga di Crea to the 1712 establishment of the Sacro Monte of Belmonte, these mountains remain a testament to a unique intersection of artistic expression, landscape design, and spiritual devotion that continues to draw visitors today.

The nine locations included in the UNESCO designation are Varallo Sesia, Serralunga di Crea, Orta San Giulio, Varese, Oropa, Ossuccio, Ghiffa, Domodossola, and Valperga. Each site serves as a distinct chapter in a broader movement that utilized physical space to bridge the gap between the faithful and the sacred history of their tradition.

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