Sacro Monte di Crea, Historical park museum in Serralunga di Crea, Italy
Sacro Monte di Crea is a sanctuary complex spread across a hilltop with 23 chapels and 5 hermitages connected by paths through wooded grounds. The entire site covers approximately 34 hectares of forested terrain where visitors can walk between the different buildings.
Construction began in 1589 around an existing sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with roots reaching back to Saint Eusebius of Vercelli in the 4th century. The complex grew over the following centuries as new chapels and structures were added to expand the religious site.
The chapels display life-sized statue groups and frescoes painted by different artists over the 16th and 17th centuries. These artworks tell religious stories that visitors encounter while walking through the sanctuary.
The site is accessible for wheelchairs and mobility aids, with paved paths connecting the chapels, though some slopes can be steep. Comfortable shoes are advisable, and visitors should plan enough time to explore the entire complex at a relaxed pace.
The final chapel in the complex features a cylindrical structure depicting the coronation of the Virgin Mary surrounded by numerous saints, popes, and angels arranged in dynamic poses. This distinctive architectural and artistic design sets it apart from the other buildings on the grounds.
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