Visit to the Sacro Monte of Crea, Unesco world heritage

The Special Reserve of the Sacro Monte di Crea, located in a splendid panoramic position, is registered in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: "Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy".
The Sacro Monte of Crea stands on a place of ancient Marian worship and is made up of the Sanctuary, 23 chapels and 5 hermitages. It was built between 1589 and 1612, with a further construction phase in the 1820s.
The basilica sanctuary is of Romanesque origin, remodeled several times over the centuries: the façade is Baroque, while the interior with three naves retains the ancient layout, although adorned with various decorations from a later period. The interior preserves important works among which stand out the autograph panel by Macrino d'Alba dated 1503 dedicated to the Madonna with Child and Saints, the cycle of frescoes with the Stories of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia from the 15th century, the wooden statue of the Virgin from the 14th century and the bas-reliefs on the pillars depicting Solomon's knots, plant motifs and two winged griffins with stars which date back to the 12th century.
The 23 chapels are the result of two construction phases: one dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, the other to the 19th century. The oldest phase is characterized by complex groups of statues in polychrome terracotta, almost all the work of the Flemish artists Giovanni and Nicola De Wespin known as the Tabacchetti, while the frescoes are mostly attributed to Giorgio Alberini, a follower of Moncalvo. The second phase is marked by much simpler sculptural groups, in stucco or plaster and paintings by Brilla, Maggi, Latini, Capra and Morgari. Among others, Chapel 16 "The climb to Calvary" stands out for its artistic value, built between 1887 and 1889: the plastic group was created by Leonardo Bistolfi. Of great interest is Chapel 23 "The Coronation of the Virgin", commonly called "The Paradise" which dates back to 1598: it is the highest chapel of the Sacred Mountain and inside there triumph groups of figures hanging and frescoed on the vault, around 300 in all, largely operated by De Wespin and aid.