Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, Religious architectural complex in Northern Italy.
The Sacri Monti comprise nine sacred mountains scattered across the hills of Piedmont and Lombardy, each hosting a network of chapels and religious buildings. These complexes have been built starting from 1486 and continue across the landscape.
These sacred mountains developed during the Counter-Reformation as pilgrimage destinations closer to home than the distant Holy Land. They provided believers with spiritual journeys without requiring travel to distant places.
Each complex holds chapels decorated with frescoes and sculptures that tell stories of the Bible and the lives of saints through visual art. Visitors walking through these spaces encounter religious narratives carved in stone and painted on walls.
Many of the mountain sites are accessible via walking trails that connect multiple chapels through natural surroundings. Visitors should be aware that some paths are steep and conditions vary by season.
These sacred mountains blend religious buildings directly into the surrounding natural landscape rather than imposing them upon it. The structures seem to grow from the forests and hills around them, creating a seamless visual experience.
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