B&B Julia

Sacro Monte di Crea: a UNESCO gem nearby

Only 15 minutes away lies one of the nine Sacri Monti protected as UNESCO World Heritage — a quiet place in the woods, where 23 chapels are scattered along a walking path.

The Sacri Monti are a 15th and 16th century Italian invention: a kind of 'pilgrimage in miniature'. Instead of travelling all the way to Jerusalem, you could walk a chain of chapels closer to home, each housing life-sized terracotta statues and frescoes depicting a scene.

What makes Crea special?

Sacro Monte di Crea sits atop a hill in the middle of a wooded nature park. Between old oaks and chestnut trees, narrow paths lead past 23 chapels, with views across all of Monferrato — on a clear day all the way to the Monte Rosa. The highest point is crowned by the Cappella del Paradiso, on the tip of a rocky spire.

Practical

• Free entry, year-round (chapels open in high season).

• Allow 1–2 hours for a relaxed walk past all the chapels.

• Sturdy shoes recommended — the path is paved but quite steep.

• Near the basilica there's a simple bar/trattoria for coffee or pasta.