Sacro Monte di Orta
Sacro Monte di Orta
4.5
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
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108 within 5 kms
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151 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Chuck TPinetop-Lakeside, Arizona3 contributionsOur Guide at Sacro Monti di OrtaWhile spending a wonderful week of our Italian vacation at San Giulio, my wife and I visited Sacro Monte di Orta. We had the good fortune of meeting Vittorio Valenta who was our guide. The beautiful theater of the Sacro Monti was brought to life by Vittorio who with his love of the chapels and extensive knowledge made the amazing visual experience not only come to life but also highly educational. If you visit, ask for Vittorio and enjoy his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for this Sacro Monti. Chuck & Sharon - Pinetop Arizona USAVisited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 12 October 2023
- Tamassy N1 contributionBeautiful place, kind peopleThe location is perfect, the view is spectacular. When you come out of the church of San Nicolao the whole Lake spreads out in front of you. There is an opportunity to join a mass as well in the above mentioned beautiful church. You can also take part in a guided tour where you can learn fascinating stories about the chapels depicting the life of Saint Francis. Both the Franciscan monks and the tour guide are very friendly and welcoming. Ideal place to recharge your batteries.Visited September 2023Travelled soloWritten 21 October 2023
- Spectacle64Yorkshire, United Kingdom512 contributionsReligion and landscape follies combine!Amazing place to explore. Did not know what to expect as we walked up the steep hill from the town. You do not have to be religious to enjoy this place. Think of it as a landscape park full of classical follies - I did. Great views across the lake as well. Highly recommended.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,133 reviews
Excellent
655
Very good
397
Average
74
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5
Terrible
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Carlo Colombo
Osio Sotto, Italy74 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Where can you find a welcome point where there is always someone during opening hours ready to take you for a guided tour without any reservations among chapels and statues rich in history and curiosities that frame the splendid Lake Orta? Well, here at Sacro Monte it's like this! We found the volcanic Vittorio, who with his literary and musical ideas made the journey even more lively and interesting. A round of applause therefore to the organisation, its president and all the collaborators for how much they spend to make this place even more magnificent! This is the Italy we like, and this is an example to follow for any other site in our wonderful country, this is a true example of "Italy, country of culture".
So, all of you reading this, don't waste time and run to the Sacro Monte d'Orta!
So, all of you reading this, don't waste time and run to the Sacro Monte d'Orta!
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adolfo Enrique C
Italy1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
**Review on the Sacromonte of Orta with guide Vittorio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️**
I had the pleasure of visiting the Sacromonte of Orta and was deeply impressed by its beauty and spirituality. The guide, Vittorio, made the experience even more unforgettable. With his deep knowledge of the place and his contagious passion, he was able to tell us fascinating stories and hidden details that we would surely have missed without him. Its ability to connect with every visitor and make every piece of information interesting is truly remarkable. I highly recommend visiting Sacromonte and, if possible, doing it with Vittorio as your guide. A 5 star experience without a doubt!
I had the pleasure of visiting the Sacromonte of Orta and was deeply impressed by its beauty and spirituality. The guide, Vittorio, made the experience even more unforgettable. With his deep knowledge of the place and his contagious passion, he was able to tell us fascinating stories and hidden details that we would surely have missed without him. Its ability to connect with every visitor and make every piece of information interesting is truly remarkable. I highly recommend visiting Sacromonte and, if possible, doing it with Vittorio as your guide. A 5 star experience without a doubt!
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antonio a
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
Unique place in the world: a Sacro Monte dedicated to Saint Francis. Vittorio, an extremely knowledgeable person, accompanied us on the visit and led us with competence and passion along the historical, artistic and naturalistic path of the place. Even the kids were enthusiastic about the guide who kept their attention the entire time! I will report the experience to my colleagues and students at the University of Insubria
Written 18 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valentina N
Genoa, Italy15 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A few days ago we went to visit this Sacro Monte where there are 21 chapels each with paintings and terracotta statues inside representing the various phases of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Vittorio, a wonderful volunteer who explained to us with love and dedication what we were seeing, acted as our guide. Without him, with only the written parts, we would not have understood and fully experienced the magic of this place.
Regardless of religious belief, it is very exciting to see how in each chapel the scenes of the statues merge with the drawn part, becoming a real theatrical scene.
The story full of details and curious anecdotes captivated us and the two hours passed quickly.
We are very sorry that the contracts of these volunteers will soon be terminated and therefore they will only be able to see the chapels independently. It's a shame because the magic that people like Vittorio create is rare and should be preserved.
The place is wonderful but it must be understood to be fully experienced and a guide is needed to do so.
For more free guide, only a donation is requested for the work on the site. but I assure you that the quality of the service offered to us goes far beyond normal professionalism.
I left with my heart full of emotion (ps I'm not a believer).
Vittorio, a wonderful volunteer who explained to us with love and dedication what we were seeing, acted as our guide. Without him, with only the written parts, we would not have understood and fully experienced the magic of this place.
Regardless of religious belief, it is very exciting to see how in each chapel the scenes of the statues merge with the drawn part, becoming a real theatrical scene.
The story full of details and curious anecdotes captivated us and the two hours passed quickly.
We are very sorry that the contracts of these volunteers will soon be terminated and therefore they will only be able to see the chapels independently. It's a shame because the magic that people like Vittorio create is rare and should be preserved.
The place is wonderful but it must be understood to be fully experienced and a guide is needed to do so.
For more free guide, only a donation is requested for the work on the site. but I assure you that the quality of the service offered to us goes far beyond normal professionalism.
I left with my heart full of emotion (ps I'm not a believer).
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erodoto_rg
Milan, Italy13 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
A splendid and unique experience
We were lucky enough and privileged to visit the Sacro Monte and its splendid chapels with the guide Vittorio (from the visitor center and available to interested visitors - there are guided tours in the morning and afternoon)
His preparation and even more his enthusiasm allowed us to fully appreciate the magnificent seventeenth-century heritage.
Some chapels are of a touching beauty not only for the religious aspect but even more so for the artistic one: real theatrical representations
Chapel 13 or the "Carnival" but even more so chapel 20 with the canonization of the saint here (an extra gem) Vittorio also added the splendid recording of a miserere to make everything even more unforgettable.
The conservation and quality of the statues is remarkable, as are some seventeenth-century frescoes by Morazzone and the Fiamminghini.
The canvas of the nativity by Procaccini at the end of the route in the Church of San Nicolao is interesting, originally closing the chapel with the nativity of Francis: one of the many retaliations between the life of Christ and that of the Saint.
Finally, a curious Spanish statue in chapel 7 which instinctively refers to the figure of Don Rodrigo del Gonin, and curiosity within the curiosity, the inscription behind it mentions 1628.
A heartfelt thank you is an applause not only to Vittorio but also to the organization (I think it is the Piedmont region) which makes this excellent cultural service available.
We were lucky enough and privileged to visit the Sacro Monte and its splendid chapels with the guide Vittorio (from the visitor center and available to interested visitors - there are guided tours in the morning and afternoon)
His preparation and even more his enthusiasm allowed us to fully appreciate the magnificent seventeenth-century heritage.
Some chapels are of a touching beauty not only for the religious aspect but even more so for the artistic one: real theatrical representations
Chapel 13 or the "Carnival" but even more so chapel 20 with the canonization of the saint here (an extra gem) Vittorio also added the splendid recording of a miserere to make everything even more unforgettable.
The conservation and quality of the statues is remarkable, as are some seventeenth-century frescoes by Morazzone and the Fiamminghini.
The canvas of the nativity by Procaccini at the end of the route in the Church of San Nicolao is interesting, originally closing the chapel with the nativity of Francis: one of the many retaliations between the life of Christ and that of the Saint.
Finally, a curious Spanish statue in chapel 7 which instinctively refers to the figure of Don Rodrigo del Gonin, and curiosity within the curiosity, the inscription behind it mentions 1628.
A heartfelt thank you is an applause not only to Vittorio but also to the organization (I think it is the Piedmont region) which makes this excellent cultural service available.
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simona P
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The chapels tell the story of the life of Saint Francis with frescoes and statues of extraordinary beauty. The setting of Lake Orta is enchanting. Vittorio was there to welcome us and accompany us along the entire route, explaining each chapel to us. Thanks to him and his expertise we were able to appreciate every little detail. Ideal for a trip even with children to combine the beauty of nature and art.
Written 18 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuck T
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ3 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
While spending a wonderful week of our Italian vacation at San Giulio, my wife and I visited Sacro Monte di Orta. We had the good fortune of meeting
Vittorio Valenta who was our guide. The beautiful theater of the Sacro Monti was brought to life by Vittorio who with his love of the chapels and extensive knowledge made the amazing visual experience not only come to life but also highly educational. If you visit, ask for Vittorio and enjoy his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for this Sacro Monti.
Chuck & Sharon - Pinetop Arizona USA
Vittorio Valenta who was our guide. The beautiful theater of the Sacro Monti was brought to life by Vittorio who with his love of the chapels and extensive knowledge made the amazing visual experience not only come to life but also highly educational. If you visit, ask for Vittorio and enjoy his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for this Sacro Monti.
Chuck & Sharon - Pinetop Arizona USA
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DIEGO F
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
Truly interesting and exciting visit. Vittorio accompanied us and was an excellent guide, extremely competent and kind; his explanations were invaluable and made us appreciate these extraordinary works of art much more than any paper support.
Thanks again !
Thanks again !
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
851SilviaM
Fagnano Olona, Italy7,138 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
The Sacro Monte is located in an extraordinary landscape context, on a wooded promontory that juts out into Lake Orta. Twenty chapels immersed in nature illustrate episodes from the life of San Francesco with sculptures and paintings, distributed along a path that winds along the top of the mountain, opening up spectacular views of the lake and the island of San Giulio.
The visit route ends inside the church of San Nicolao, a proto-Romanesque building, completely remodeled during the 17th century in imitation of the Lower Basilica of Assisi, which houses the ancient wooden group of the Madonna della Pietà (14th century).
The beauty of the landscape, the silence and the harmonious relationship between art, architecture and nature fully reflect Franciscan spirituality.
The visit route ends inside the church of San Nicolao, a proto-Romanesque building, completely remodeled during the 17th century in imitation of the Lower Basilica of Assisi, which houses the ancient wooden group of the Madonna della Pietà (14th century).
The beauty of the landscape, the silence and the harmonious relationship between art, architecture and nature fully reflect Franciscan spirituality.
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry M
4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This was a wonderful experience. Victor,who was attending the information desk made it so. His knowledge of the churches, the historical context and the art and theatre of site, combined with an obvious passion for it and for sharing it, gave us an appreciation for this that we would otherwise have missed. For anyone with an interest in European history, history of the reformation and counter reformation or the place and development of artistic expression in Italian culture, this site is a gem. Thank you, Victor.
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Credo di si ne ho visto in giro è un parco come gli altri l'importante e non lasciare ricordini
Buona passeggiata
Written 17 June 2019
Si può accedere all'Isola in questo periodo e qualcuno conosce il costo del passaggio in battello o motoscafo?
Written 17 February 2019
Combien de temps faut il à pieds pour monter du village d'Orta au Mont Sacré?
Merci
Written 10 August 2017
Si ne ho visti....non ci dovrebbero essere problemi
Written 16 April 2016
Carolyn H
Irving, Texas
Are there any overnight or longer accommodations on the island?
Written 25 February 2015
Sull'Isola difficilmente si trovano soluzioni per pernottare. Al contrario tutte le localita' che costeggiano il lago hanno ampie possibilita' di pernottamento. I luoghi piu' vicini all'Isola sono Orta San Giulio e Pella. Tra i due borghi, in linea d'aria, ci sono circa km. 2 e l'isola si trova a meta' ed e' comodamente raggiungibile o con il battello di linea o con le imbarcazioni gestite dai motoscafisti. Il consiglio e' di cercare b/b tipo esempio "La Corte di Alzo", ottima struttura gestita con alta professionalita'.
Written 20 April 2015
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