Varallo
Renaissance stories, riverside lanes and a sacred mountain above Valsesia.
Varallo brings art into the landscape. In this historic town in northern Piemonte, old trading lanes lead between churches, small squares and the Mastallone river, while the Sacro Monte rises above the roofs. Give the town and the hilltop chapels time together: the paintings, sculptures and streets make a richer visit when you follow the connections between them.
01 · THE HISTORIC TOWN
Follow the contrade through Varallo
Start around Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, where the Collegiata di San Gaudenzio stands on a rocky rise. Its staircase and loggia explain the town’s layered shape before you even enter a church: Varallo is a place of changing levels and glimpses between buildings.
Continue into the contrade, the old trading streets around Via Alberganti and Via Albertoni. Look for courtyards, arcades and worked balconies, then make your way towards Ponte Antonini and the Mastallone. Crossing the bridge brings you to Varallo Vecchio, the town’s older nucleus.
For a deeper art visit, the Pinacoteca in Palazzo dei Musei holds works by Gaudenzio Ferrari and his followers, alongside a section devoted to Tanzio da Varallo. It helps put the work you see in the churches and chapels into a wider local story.
Hidden Italy tip: Choose the Pinacoteca as a deliberate visit, with opening times checked in advance. Leave room for the lanes as well as the collections.
02 · THE SACRO MONTE
Walk through a painted and sculpted Jerusalem
The Sacro Monte di Varallo grew from Bernardino Caimi’s late-fifteenth-century ambition to recreate places associated with the Holy Land. Its 44 chapels and basilica form part of the UNESCO-listed Sacri Monti of Piemonte and Lombardia.
Inside the chapels, life-size figures stand within painted settings. Gaudenzio Ferrari helped develop this unusually immersive way of telling sacred stories: sculpture and fresco work together, drawing the viewer into scenes rather than presenting separate objects on a wall.
The route unfolds through paths, squares and buildings above the town. Look closely at a few scenes, then step back to notice how the spaces connect. Cobbles, slopes and steps are part of the visit; arrange specific access needs with the site in advance.
Plan your visit: Check the official Sacro Monte information for access and closures. Our guide to Italy’s Sacri Monti explains how Varallo fits into the wider group.
03 · GAUDENZIO FERRARI
Read the story across Santa Maria delle Grazie
At the foot of the climb, Santa Maria delle Grazie provides a close connection with the Sacro Monte. The church was built for a Franciscan community; its great internal dividing wall originally separated the friars’ space from the area open to worshippers.
In 1513, Gaudenzio Ferrari painted that wall with scenes from the life and Passion of Christ. The Parete Gaudenziana is arranged in 21 compartments, with a narrative running from the Annunciation to the Resurrection. It rewards more than a quick glance through the doorway.
Seeing the wall before the hilltop chapels is a useful way to compare painted storytelling with the combination of figures and backgrounds above. Treat it as part of the same artistic journey, while allowing for services and any conservation work.
Hidden Italy tip: Read the official church guide before visiting, and check current access if this fresco is a priority for your trip.
Pictured: Chapel 31 at the Sacro Monte di Varallo. Santa Maria delle Grazie is in the town below.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Give the town and the hill their own time
A suggested first day in Varallo
Morning: explore Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the contrade and Ponte Antonini, then visit Santa Maria delle Grazie if open. Afternoon: focus on the Sacro Monte, with time for its chapels and viewpoints. This is our suggested sequence, not a timed official route; add the Pinacoteca on a second morning if you prefer an unhurried art visit.
Where to stay & how long to spend
We suggest a full day for the town and Sacro Monte, or one to two nights to include the museums. A room in the centre suits evenings on foot; accommodation elsewhere in Valsesia makes more sense for a wider valley trip. Check the exact location, parking and luggage access rather than relying on the name Varallo alone.
When to visit
Spring and autumn are useful starting points for a visit centred on art and walking. In summer, allow shade and breaks on the climb; in winter, shorter daylight and slippery surfaces can affect the hilltop visit. Confirm museum and church access for your date, particularly if travelling for a specific work.
Getting here & getting around
Plan the road approach through Valsesia, or check the complete current bus journey with the local tourism office. Explore the central lanes on foot and treat the Sacro Monte as a separate uphill journey. The official site currently reports the cable car closed from 9 July 2026 until further notice (checked October 2026); recheck its status and plan walking or road access accordingly.
A taste of Valsesia
Look for valley cheeses and local craft traditions such as puncetto lace. For lunch, ask what is seasonal and locally produced; Varallo’s food connects Alpine pastures with the rice-growing lowlands and nearby wine areas. Book dinner ahead if it matters to an overnight stay.
Build a wider Piemonte journey
Use our Piemonte travel guide, 7-day itinerary and interactive travel map to plan the next stage. Keep Valsesia and the lake district as distinct stops, with time for the transfer instead of trying to combine every landmark in one day.
Image credits
Varallo Sesia – riverside view — Valerio Bozzolan · CC0 1.0 · edited version
Sacro Monte (Varallo Sesia) 20 — Carlo Dell’Orto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited version
Varallo Sacro Monte di Varallo Cappella XXXI — Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Via Wikimedia Commons. Resized for display. The riverside view and chapel courtyard are edited versions of the linked originals; the adapted courtyard image and any crops of CC BY-SA images are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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