Province VC
Varallo, VC
The main town of the Valsesia, on the Sesia river in the province of Vercelli, below the Monte Rosa massif. It exists in large part around its sacred mountain, begun in 1491 and the oldest of the northern Italian Sacri Monti. The old town below has painted houses, arcades and a strong Gaudenzio Ferrari connection.
Sights
- Sacro Monte di Varallo, UNESCO listed since 2003, with around 44 frescoed chapels and a basilica staging Gospel scenes with roughly 800 life-size statues, begun in 1491
- Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie, which holds Gaudenzio Ferrari's frescoed wall of the life of Christ, dated 1513
- The Pinacoteca Civica, with works by Ferrari, Tanzio da Varallo and other Valsesian painters
- Collegiata di San Gaudenzio, above the town centre on a rock terrace
- The cable car from the town up to the sanctuary
Things to do
- Take the cable car up and walk back down through the chapels
- Walk the WARAL street-art murals through the old centre
- Eat Valsesian mountain food, toma, polenta and miacce
- Start from here for Sesia rafting or the walks towards Alagna
Annual events
July
Alpaa
Ten days of free concerts, food stalls and craft markets through the town, past its fiftieth edition.
When to visit
May to October for walking and the Sacro Monte. December to March the town is cold and quiet, though the sanctuary stays accessible.
