Nature parks
Special Nature Reserve of the Sacro Monte of Varallo
Category: Parks
This is the most ancient of the Sacri Monti of Piemonte, and lies surrounded by the woods. It is located on the top of a rocky spur dropping sheer to Varallo, from which it overlooks the whole of the lower Valsesia until the Monte Fenera (Mount Fenera) and, towards the northwest, the Monte Rosa massif stands out in the background. Vegetation inside the sacred enclosure has been arranged in an Italian Renaissance garden style, with box hedges trimmed to create particular shapes and numerous local and exotic plants, planted so as to enhance the architectural complex. We can find here a thicket of beech trees of various heights, as well as ancient yew trees, ilexes and English elms. Not many mammals and birds live here due to a heavy human presence that has characterised this area for a long time.
Information
Area: 22 hectares
Elevation: 455 - 650 metres above sea level
Established: 1980
Environment: hilly
E-mail: riservasacromonte@laproxima.it
www.parks.it/riserva.sacro.monte.varallo
Head Office
Piazzale della Basilica - 13019 Varallo (Vc)
Tel. +39.0163.53938 - Fax: +39.0163.54047
