Tour of Santa Caterina del Sasso
The most inaccessible attraction in the Maggiore Valley is the Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso (Monastery of St Caterina on the Rock).
The monastery’s novices practised a truly reclusive lifestyle, so they set up their abode on an almost sheer cliff.
First built in the 12th century, legend has it that the monastery was founded by a wealthy merchant, Alberto Bezozzi. A terrible storm caught him in the centre of the lake and he made a vow to the Madonna to build a retreat if his life was spared. From the beginning, this secluded retreat became a place of pilgrimage and prayer.
The monastery was begun in the 13th century and dedicated to the martyr St Catherine of Alexandria.
In the 16th century, part of the cliff overhanging the monastery and church buildings collapsed. To commemorate this tragic event, the novices of the monastery added the ending “del sasso” – “stone” – to the name of the great martyr.
In modern times, the convent of Santa Caterina del Sasso houses a museum. Visitors can admire the 14th-century frescoes and take in the peace and goodness.
The hermitage can be reached along the eastern shore of the lake by descending an ancient stone staircase. Or you can take a boat or motorised scaffold from Stresa, the latter route allowing you to fully appreciate the unique location and beauty of this secluded spot.
The Sacro Monte di Guiffa Sanctuary has been protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
The holy mountain is located at Lago Maggiore and hides in its steep hills a Baroque church complex dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The chapels, where you can touch the eternal and look inside yourself, are surrounded by a vast protected park.
200 hectares of land are covered with forests and meadows, with colourful information boards. And deep within the reserve lies the mysterious Witch Lake.
