Sacro Monte di Oropa

The Sacred Mount of Oropa rises above the sanctuary through meadows and woodland. Its chapels present episodes from the life of Mary through painted scenes and life-size terracotta figures; work began in 1620.

Why it matters

The Oropa complex belongs to the UNESCO-listed Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. The chapels combine sculpture, painting and landscape in a devotional sequence associated with the sanctuary below. The main series comprises twelve chapels devoted to the Virgin, alongside smaller chapels connected with saints and the sanctuary's traditions.

What to notice

The chapel interiors combine terracotta figures with painted backdrops to depict episodes from Mary's life. The sculptural groups reflect the work of artists and workshops including Giovanni d'Enrico, Bartolomeo Termine and Agostino Silva, with later contributions by the Termine family and the Galliari. The chapels are set within the hillside landscape above the sanctuary.

Context and history

Work on Oropa's Sacred Mount began in 1620, following the model of Varallo. The project developed over more than a century, bringing together early Baroque sculpture and later artistic work. Five smaller chapels complement the principal series and link the mount's devotional themes with traditions of the sanctuary. UNESCO inscribed the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy in 2003. The sacred mount and the sanctuary have distinct administrative histories.