The Sacro Monte di Varallo is at the forefront of the Alpàa initiatives: during the days of the festival it will be possible to carry out exclusive evening guided tours with Kalatà, but also to deepen different aspects related to the heritage of the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy with a cycle of conferences at the Spazio Valsesia in Villa Durio.
Guided tours at night represent a unique opportunity: «The visit – explains Francesca Giordano, the president of the management body of the sacred mountains – includes the exclusive opening of the chapel of the Crucifixion, Gaudenzio Ferrari’s Renaissance masterpiece. A unique experience to appreciate up close the extraordinary statues and frescoes in which the genius of Gaudenzio Ferrari finds its maximum expression ».
Guided tours will be organized by Kalatà (info and reservations at 0174/330976 – booking@kalata.it, both afternoon and evening appointments are planned for 6 euros with meeting at the cable car) which will offer an experience similar to that of the faithful who once could enter these architectures, mingle among the statues and become an integral part of the artistic representation and religious. A precious opportunity to discover the Sacro Monte: a new and closer Jerusalem, built starting from the end of the 15th century with the aim of making the pilgrimage to the Holy Land accessible to all. Today the Sacro Monte, which has 45 chapels, palaces, squares, streets, fountains, green areas and woods, is a place suspended in time and space, characterized by an unparalleled dimension of spirituality.
And precisely these aspects will be explored in the cycle of conferences “The Sacred Mountains tell” scheduled from 9 to 17 July at Villa Durio in the hall on the ground floor where the photographic exhibition by Marco Beck Peccoz “The look on the Sacred Mountains” will also be set up. dedicated to the nine Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy, as well as some models of the buildings of that of Varallo, including a model of the great ideal project by Galeazzo Alessi (1565-1569).
The conferences include the interventions of Francesca Giordano, president of the body “UNESCO, art, spirituality, landscape and tourism” (9 July at 18.30 and 20.45), Nadia Salvagno, director of the body “Aims and interests of protection of a serial complex UNESCO heritage “(10 July at 8.45 pm), Stefano Aietti of the Promotion sector of the Body” Of stone, fire and ice, curiosities and anecdotes on the Sacro Monte di Varallo “(11 July, 18.30 and 20.45), Giacomo Gagliardini past president of the Body “A key to understanding the monumental complex of the Sacro Monte di Varallo” (12 July, 8.45 pm), Laura Severgnini “The Lombard Sacred Mountains of Varese and Ossuccio” (13 July, 6.30 pm), Paola Angeleri director of the building of the Museums of Varallo “The Sacro Monte di Varallo and the Pinacoteca: from the territory to the museum” (14 July, 6.30 pm), Stefano Aietti “Pebbles, tracks and ropes: historical summary of the connections to the Sacro Monte di Varallo” (15 July , 18.30 and 20.45). On July 16, the meetings will start at 3 pm and end at 6.30 pm, with speeches by Rita Regis, park keeper of the “The garden of the Sacro Monte di Varallo between ideas, projects and current events”, Stefano Aietti “Of stone, fire and ice, curiosities and anecdotes on the Sacro Monte di Varallo ”and Nadia Salvagno“ APP-obsessed with the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy UNESCO, learn, communicate and play ”. Finally, on Sunday 17 July Franco Grosso, an expert on walks, will conclude the cycle of conferences with the speech “700 km on foot between the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy Unesco: between art, faith, nature and culture” (4.30 pm) and Stefano Aietti with the revival of “Pebbles, tracks and ropes: historical synthesis of the connections for the Sacro Monte di Varallo” (6.30 pm).
The initiatives scheduled at the Sacro Monte will also be completed by the “I’m alive” charity show promoted by Lilt Vercelli with Kimoneria Nui (Saturday 16 July, at 8.45pm).
Guided tour program (maximum 25 people)
Friday 8 July – 8.45 pm – visit at night
Saturday 9 July – 8.45 pm – visit at night
Monday 11 July – 5.00 pm – afternoon visit
Friday 15 July – 8.45 pm – visit at night
Sunday 17 July – 5.00 pm – afternoon visit
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