Religion in Piedmont
A tour through unique landscapes and fascinating places visiting abbeys, monasteries and medieval cathedrals. From the famous Sacra di San Michele in the Susa Valley we will reach the Sesia Valley, Lake Maggiore and the Ossola Valley to see some of the Sacred Mountains of our region, places of worship which have become UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day 1: Arrival in Turin, check-in at the hotel, welcome cocktail and dinner.
Day 2: The day begins with a visit to a fascinating abbey in the Susa valley, the famous Sacra di San Michele. You will be mesmerized by the particular atmosphere of this place and the surrounding mountains. Return to Turin in the early afternoon and visit of the centre with Piazza Castello, the Royal Palace and the Mole Antonelliana.
Day 3: Visit to the Reggia di Venaria. After 10 years of intense restoration, the Reggia and its gardens have returned to their former splendour. The origins of the “Venaria Reale” date back to the 17th century when Duke Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy decided to build the court a new residence “for leisure and for hunting”. During the centuries that followed the royal palace changed, gradually becoming one of the most beautiful royal palaces of the Savoy family. We will return to Turin in the early afternoon to visit the most famous museums of the City (Egyptian Museum, Cinema Museum etc). Upon request you may also arrange a visit to the basilica of Superga.
Day 4: We move away from the city and closer to the lake. A two-hour journey will take us to Ricetto di Candelo (a ‘ricetto’ is a fortress). This is a splendid example of fortress which was built by the population of Candelo between the 13th and 14th century. It is one of the best preserved ‘Ricetti’ of Piedmont existing today and a memorial to the people of Candelo. Our trip will continue in the afternoon towards Valsesia and New Jerusalem, one of the first ‘sacred mountains’ in our region. It was built before the end of the 15th century and its 43 chapels hold pictures of the holy sites of Palestine. We will reach our new hotel on Lake Maggiore in the evening.
Day 5: On this day we will concentrate on learning about the philosopher Antonio Rosmini, who lived between the 18th and 19th centuries and was beatified in 2007. He was born in Rovereto and studied in the University of Padua. In 1826 he moved to Milan and to an area near the lake. He spent many hours in the Sacred Mountain Calvario di Domodossola, where he founded his own congregation and his work was inspired. In the morning we will visit the Sacred Mountain in Domodossola and in the afternoon the house where Antonio Rosmini lived. It is also possible to visit his grave.
Day 6: Today we will visit the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. A stunning feature of this Hermitage is its position over the lake (it seems to cling to the side of the mountain jutting out into the lake). It is a monastery made of three buildings which date back to the 13th century and were started by the Holy Alberto Besozzi (who lived here for 35 years as a hermit). During the day we will visit Isola Pescatori where we can have lunch in one of the many restaurants. We will then visit the splendid baroque palace of Isola Bella and its gardens.
Day 7: Return home after breakfast.
Price starting from Euro 618,00 per person / minimum 25 participants
Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights
The package includes:
- N. 3 nights with half board in a good 3* hotel in Turin
- N. 3 nights with half board in a good 3* hotel in the lake Maggiore area
- N. 3 full day guide services (Sacra di San Michele + Turin city centre / Antonio Rosmini and Domodossola Sacro Monte Calvario / S. Caterina - Borromean Islands)
- N. 3 half day guide services (Venaria /Ricetto di Candelo/ Varallo)
- Entrance ticket to Sacra di San Michele
- Entrance ticket to Reggia di Venaria
- Private motorbaot transfer to Santa Cateina del Sasso Hermitage, Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori
- Entrance ticket to palace and gardens of Isola Bella
