In 1656, two Capuchin friars—Gioacchino da Cassano and Andrea da Rho—led the people of Domodossola in building a devotional pathway up Mount Mattarella. Fifteen chapels would rise along the route, each housing life-size terracotta figures depicting the Stations of the Cross, from Christ's condemnation by Pilate to his burial in the tomb. The project took over a century to complete, with sculptors trained in Bernini's Roman workshop creating some of the most emotionally powerful statuary of the Baroque era. Today the Sacro Monte Calvario stands as one of nine sacred mountains inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites—a masterpiece of integration between art, architecture, and the Piedmontese landscape.
The history of Domodossola's sacred mount took an unexpected turn in 1828, when the theologian Antonio Rosmini arrived and established the Mother House of a new religious order, the Institute of Charity. The Rosminians, as they came to be known, gave new spiritual impetus to the site, and their presence continues to this day. Rosmini himself was beatified by the Church, and pilgrims now come not only to walk the Way of the Cross but to visit the Casa Madre where one of nineteenth-century Catholicism's most original thinkers lived and worked.
Domodossola itself sits in the Val d'Ossola, at the Italian end of the Simplon Pass that has connected Italy and Switzerland since Roman times. The town's position on major rail routes makes it accessible from Milan, Geneva, and Bern—an easy pilgrimage for those traveling between northern Europe and Italy. The collegiate church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius anchors the town center, while the Sacro Monte rises just beyond, visible from the piazza below.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Sacri Monti—"sacred mountains"—arose from a particular historical circumstance: the Ottoman conquest of the Holy Land made pilgrimage to Jerusalem increasingly dangerous, and Catholic Europe sought alternatives. Beginning at Varallo in 1491, Franciscan and Capuchin friars created devotional complexes in the foothills of the Alps where pilgrims could experience the sacred places of Christ's life through artistic recreation. The movement spread across Piedmont and Lombardy, producing nine major sites that UNESCO would eventually recognize as "a highly important example of landscape architecture."
Domodossola's Sacro Monte began in 1656-1657 under the direction of the two Capuchin friars and with enthusiastic support from the local population. In 1658, a great arch called the Arco di Pilato was erected in the center of Domodossola to mark the beginning of the route (though this was demolished in 1875). The fifteen chapels were positioned along a path ascending Mount Mattarella to an elevation of 363 meters, each depicting a station in Christ's Passion.
The sculptural programs attracted major artists. Dionisio Bussola, a Milanese sculptor trained in Rome under Bernini and later appointed "protostatuary" of Milan's Duomo, created the masterful "Christ dying on Mount Golgota" installed in 1662. His assistant Giovanni Battista de Magistris (known as Volpino) continued work on subsequent chapels. In the early eighteenth century, Giuseppe Rusnati of Gallarate took over the sculptural direction. Painters including Carlo Mellerio and Giovanni Sanpietro created frescoed backgrounds that extend the scenes into illusionistic space. In the nineteenth century, the Piedmontese sculptor Leonardo Bistolfi added the emotionally intense "Climb to Calvary" chapel.
The arrival of Blessed Antonio Rosmini in 1828 transformed the Sacro Monte into more than a devotional art complex. Rosmini (1797-1855), a theologian and philosopher from Rovereto, sought a place to establish a new religious order dedicated to charitable work and intellectual engagement with modern thought. On February 20, 1828, he founded the Institute of Charity at the summit of Mount Mattarella, making the sanctuary the Casa Madre (Mother House) that it remains today. Pope Gregory XVI formally approved the order in 1838. Rosmini's writings on philosophy, theology, and social justice influenced Catholic thought for generations, and his beatification confirmed the spiritual significance of the place where he spent his formative years as a founder.
In 2003, UNESCO inscribed the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy as a World Heritage Site, recognizing their successful integration of religious architecture and art with the natural landscape. The citation praised the way these complexes "represent outstanding examples of the successful integration of architecture and fine art into a landscape of great beauty for spiritual purposes."
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Domodossola
Sacro Monte Calvario
Sacred Mount Calvary
The fifteen chapels of the Via Crucis ascend Mount Mattarella through chestnut forests to the sanctuary complex at the summit. Each chapel houses life-size polychrome terracotta and stucco statues depicting a station of Christ's Passion, from his condemnation before Pilate to his entombment. The sculptural quality varies from chapel to chapel, reflecting over a century of construction, but the finest works—particularly those by Dionisio Bussola—rank among the masterpieces of Baroque devotional art. The traditional pilgrimage begins at Via Mattarella in Domodossola and ascends on foot (approximately 20-30 minutes), though a cable car also operates. The route culminates at the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix and the Rosminian convent, with panoramic views over the Toce valley and surrounding Alps.
Santuario del Santissimo Crocifisso
Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix
The pilgrimage church at the summit of the Sacro Monte, shaped as an elongated octagon, was begun in 1657 and completed over the following decades. The interior focuses on a venerated crucifix and contains frescoes and altarpieces from various periods. Adjacent to the sanctuary stands the Oratory of Our Lady of Grace (Madonna delle Grazie) and the remains of the medieval Mattarella Castle. The sanctuary serves as the parish church of the Sacro Monte and hosts regular Masses celebrated by the Rosminian Fathers.
Casa Madre dei Rosminiani
Mother House of the Rosminians
The original convent buildings at the summit of Mount Mattarella became the Casa Madre of the Institute of Charity when Blessed Antonio Rosmini founded the order here on February 20, 1828. The complex includes the rooms where Rosmini lived and worked, now preserved as a place of pilgrimage for those devoted to his memory. The Mother House continues to serve as the domicile of the Rosminian postulate and international novitiate, welcoming visitors who wish to learn about Rosmini's spirituality and the order's mission of charitable work and intellectual engagement.
Collegiata dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio
Collegiate Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius
The principal church of Domodossola, dedicated to the twin martyrs of Milan, was built between 1792 and 1798 by the architect Matteo Zucchi on the ruins of a fifteenth-century church. The façade remained incomplete until 1953-1954, when the architect Giovanni Creppi finished it under Monsignor Luigi Pellanda. The three-nave interior features an exquisite high altar of polychrome marble and frescoes by the Vigezzo valley painter Lorenzo Peretti (1774-1851). The porch, created in 1648 by Bernardino Lazzaro of Val d'Intelvi, survived from the earlier church. Now a national monument, the Collegiata serves as the focal point of Catholic life in Domodossola.
Santuario della Madonna della Neve
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow
A sanctuary dating to the early seventeenth century, commissioned by Bernardino Lazzaro of Val d'Intelvi. The church was built over shelters that protected a small oratory from the flooding of the Bogna River. The interior preserves a remarkable fresco of the Madonna and Child painted in 1372—one of the oldest surviving religious artworks in the Ossola valley, rendered on a wall of barely cemented river pebbles from the primitive oratory.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross — September 14
The principal feast of the Sacro Monte Calvario, dedicated to the mystery of Christ's Passion. Special processions along the Via Crucis and solemn liturgies at the summit sanctuary draw pilgrims from across the region. The feast provides an occasion to meditate on the fifteen stations in community.
Feast of Saints Gervasius and Protasius — June 19
The patronal feast of Domodossola celebrates the twin martyrs to whom the Collegiata is dedicated. Tradition holds that Gervasius and Protasius were martyred in Milan during the persecutions under Nero or Marcus Aurelius; their relics were discovered by Saint Ambrose in 386.
Anniversary of the Rosminian Foundation — February 20
The anniversary of Blessed Antonio Rosmini's founding of the Institute of Charity in 1828 is observed with special Masses and commemorations at the Casa Madre. Pilgrims devoted to Rosmini's memory gather to honor the founder and learn about his spiritual legacy.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel Corona ⭐⭐⭐ — Traditional hotel in Domodossola's historic center, offering comfortable rooms and a restaurant serving Ossolano cuisine. Walking distance to the Collegiata and the path to Sacro Monte. Reserve this hotel
Locanda Piemonte Da Sciolla ⭐⭐⭐ — Housed in a fourteenth-century building in the town center, featuring a restaurant serving local specialties, a bar, and a terrace with views toward the Sacro Monte. Reserve this hotel
La Palma ⭐⭐⭐ — Quiet property one kilometer from the city center and train station, with a terrace overlooking Mount Mattarella. Free parking and easy access to the Sacro Monte. Reserve this hotel
Hotel Motel Europa ⭐⭐⭐ — Located near the Sacro Monte with garden, free parking, and restaurant. Convenient for pilgrims who prefer to stay close to the sacred mountain. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Milan Malpensa Airport is approximately 100 kilometers south. From the airport, take the Malpensa Express to Gallarate, then connect to regional trains to Domodossola (total journey approximately 2 hours).
By Train: Domodossola sits on the Simplon Railway, one of Europe's great transalpine routes. The Trenord RE4 RegioExpress connects Domodossola to Milano Centrale in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. EuroCity trains connect to Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, and Basel via the 20-kilometer Simplon Tunnel to Brig, Switzerland. The station is centrally located, within walking distance of the Collegiata and the path to Sacro Monte.
By Car: From Milan, take the A26 motorway north toward Gravellona Toce, then continue on the Simplon dual carriageway to Domodossola (approximately 1.5 hours). From Switzerland, cross the Simplon Pass or use the car-train shuttle through the tunnel. Parking is available in the town center and near the Sacro Monte.
On Foot to Sacro Monte: From Piazza Tibaldi in Domodossola, take Via Rosmini (marked with red and white signs), which becomes Via Mattarella. The first chapel stands at the end of Via Mattarella; the ascent to the summit takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Good walking shoes are recommended as the path can be uneven.
Local Transport: A funicular operates from Domodossola to Sacro Monte Calvario, offering scenic views and taking approximately 10 minutes.
📚 Further Reading
Elena De Filippis and Stefano Vassallo. Sacri Monti del Piemonte e della Lombardia — Guide to all nine UNESCO-inscribed sacred mountains.
Antonio Rosmini. The Five Wounds of the Church — Blessed Rosmini's most famous work on Church reform, written at the Casa Madre.
Online Resources:
Sacri Monti Official Website — Comprehensive information on all nine sacred mountains with visiting details.
UNESCO World Heritage: Sacri Monti — Official UNESCO listing explaining the Outstanding Universal Value.
Rosminians — Official website of the Institute of Charity with information on Blessed Antonio Rosmini.
🔗 Useful Links
Visit Ossola — Regional tourism portal for the Ossola valley.
Distretto Turistico dei Laghi — Tourism board for Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, and the Ossola valleys.
Trenord — Regional train service connecting Domodossola to Milan.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Ghiffa (35 km) — The Sacro Monte della Santissima Trinità overlooks Lake Maggiore, featuring three Baroque chapels and a medieval sanctuary dedicated to the Holy Trinity. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sacro Monte di Varallo (50 km) — The oldest of the Sacri Monti, founded in 1491 as a "New Jerusalem." Forty-five chapels house over 800 life-size painted statues depicting the life of Christ. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sacro Monte di Orta (40 km) — The only Sacro Monte dedicated entirely to a saint, featuring twenty chapels depicting the life of Saint Francis of Assisi with 370 terracotta statues. Located near the island of San Giulio on Lake Orta. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sacro Monte di Oropa (90 km) — The largest of the Sacri Monti, dedicated to the Black Madonna of Oropa in the Alpine foothills above Biella. Nineteen chapels and a vast sanctuary complex. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"We need to simplify, to disentangle ourselves from many minor things and acquire a new love of essentials." — Blessed Antonio Rosmini, The Five Wounds of the Church
