The Via Sacra of the Sacred Mountain of Varese
A cobbled avenue climbing for about two kilometres, punctuated by fourteen Baroque chapels, up to the medieval village of Santa Maria del Monte, with views over the lakes.
- Difficulty
- T Tourist
- Length
- 3.4 km
- Elevation gain
- +200 m / −200 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 hours round trip
- Route
- Out and back
- Altitude
- 606–829 m
- Season
- Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Download the GPXDirections to the start ↗
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The story
The chapels were built from 1604 onwards and depict the mysteries of the Rosary with life-size statues and frescoes; the fifteenth mystery is the sanctuary itself, at the top. Since 2003 the Sacred Mountain of Varese has been part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy.
Why go
Because it is a walk through art and landscape right next to the city, lovely in every season.
Practical information
- Start
- First Chapel, Varese
- Finish
- Village of Santa Maria del Monte; back the same way or by funicular (when running)
- Best time
- All year round
- Parking
- Car parks at the First Chapel.
- By public transport
- City bus from Varese to the First Chapel.
- Water
- Fountains along the avenue and cafés in the village.
- Shade
- Partial, with trees along the avenue.
- Huts and refreshments
- Cafés and restaurants in Santa Maria del Monte.
- With children
- Yes, on a cobbled avenue with a steady climb.
Weather at the start
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
What to see on the route and nearby
- Sacred Mountain of VareseOn the route
- ★ Castiglione Olona12 km from the start
- ★ Santa Caterina del Sasso14 km from the start
More hikes in Lombardy
- 1Sentiero del Viandante, Lierna–VarennaE 7.4 km · +580 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 2★ Codera, the village you can only reach on footE 6.2 km · +570 m · 3–3.5 hours · out and back
- 3★ The Earth Pyramids of ZoneE 2.1 km · +170 m · 1–1.5 hours · loop
- 4★ Monte Isola, the climb to the Madonna della CeriolaE 5.5 km · +470 m · 2.5–3 hours · out and back
- 5★ The Forni glacier trailE 4.1 km · +460 m · 3 hours · point to point
- 6Lake Como Greenway, from Colonno to CadenabbiaT 11 km · +170 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 8Val di Mello to Cascina PianaT 6.8 km · +160 m · 2.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 9Rifugio Curò and Lago del Barbellino from ValbondioneE 9.8 km · +960 m · 5–5.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 10Laghi Gemelli from CaronaE 10.6 km · +860 m · 5 hours round trip · out and back
- 11Corni di Canzo: from Fonti di Gajum to Rifugio SEVE 10.3 km · +770 m · 4.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 12Lago Palù from San Giuseppe in ValmalencoE 7.9 km · +520 m · 3–3.5 hours round trip · out and back
Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Waymarked Trails and BRouter; elevations from a digital terrain model. Times and elevation gains are indicative: waymarks on the ground and closure orders always take precedence.