Basilica e Sacro Monte di Crea

The Sacro Monte (Sacred Mountain) of Crea comprises the Sanctuary, 23 chapels, 5 hermitages and stands on a place of ancient Marian worship. It was built between 1589 and 1612, with a further construction phase in the 1920s. The basilica sanctuary of Romanesque origin was altered several times over the centuries: the façade is Baroque, while the interior with three naves preserves the antique layout, though embellished with various decorations of a later time. The interior preserves important works which include the autographed panel by Macrino d’Alba dated 1503 dedicated to the Madonna with Child and Saints, the cycle of frescoes with the Stories of Saint Margaret of Antioch of the 15th century, the Wooden Statue of the Virgin of the 14th century and the bas-reliefs on the pilasters depicting Solomon's knots, plant motifs and two winged griffons with stars that date to the 12th century. The 23 chapels are the result of two construction phases: one dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, the other to the 19th century. The oldest phase is distinguished by complex statues in polychrome terracotta, almost all the work of the Flemish Giovanni and Nicola De Wespin, known as the Tabacchetti, while the frescoes are attributed for the most part to Giorgio Alberini, follower of Moncalvo. The second phase is marked by much simpler statues in stucco or plaster and paintings by Brilla, Maggi, Latini, Capra and Morgari. Chapel number 16, “The climb to Calvary” built between 1887 and 1889, stands out for artistic merit: the group of sculptures is the work of Leonardo Bistolfi. Of great interest is Chapel 23, “The Coronation of the Virgin”, commonly known as "Il Paradiso”, dates to 1598: it is the highest chapel of the Sacro Monte and the interior is dominated by groups of hanging sculptures and frescoed figures on the vault, approximately 300 in total. The work was carried out primarily by De Wespin and helpers. * * * * * NEW APP DEDICATED TO THE SACRED MOUNTAINS «App-assionarsi ai Sacri Monti» is the new downloadable App from Android and Apple which will guide tourists to visit the UNESCO heritages sites along interactive multimedia routes. The new audio video guides of the Sacred Mountains are designed to accompany tourists during their visit to the UNESCO heritage sites that join Varallo, Crea, Orta, Varese, Oropa, Ossuccio, Ghiffa, Domodossola and Belmonte between Piedmont and Lombardy. The digital format of the Sacred Mountains, produced by the Management Body led by the president Francesca Giordano and funded by Law 77/2006 of the Ministry of Culture, is built with itineraries, graphic or geographical maps which, thanks to augmented reality, allow to enter the Chapels where spectacular sculptural and pictorial scenes are preserved. The smartphone and tablet application - downloadable free of charge from the Android and Apple platforms - is available in five languages: Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and allows to have fun with games and quizzes designed for families. Each Sacred Mountain offers traditional routes which follow the itinerary marked by the chapels animated by sculptural and pictorial masterpieces of the greatest artists from the Renaissance to the Baroque, from the Rococo to the Neo classicism, of Lombardy and Piedmont, but also thematic and recreational routes which can be used by young people to discover the Sacred Mountains in a fun and interactive way. * USEFUL INFORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY * The Sanctuary is accessible to people with motor disabilities. The Devotional Path is partly accessible to people with motor disabilities. The Chapels are not accessible: the sculptures are visible from the outside.