The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Serralunga di Crea, Italy

Rising from the vine-covered hills of Basso Monferrato, the Sacro Monte di Crea draws pilgrims along a wooded path marked by twenty-three chapels filled with polychrome terracotta figures and Renaissance frescoes. The devotional route ends at the hilltop Sanctuary of Santa Maria Assunta, where tradition holds that Bishop Eusebius of Vercelli installed a statue of the Madonna around 350 AD—making Crea one of the oldest Marian pilgrimage sites in Piedmont. The Sacro Monte belongs to a group of nine sacred mountains across Piedmont and Lombardy inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003 for the integration of sacred art with natural landscape. Unlike the prototype at Varallo, which recreates the Holy Land, Crea's chapels trace the life and mysteries of the Virgin Mary, culminating in the extraordinary Chapel 23—the Paradiso—where over three hundred statues depict her coronation in heaven amid concentric circles of apostles, saints, and martyrs.

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📜 History

Around the year 350 AD, Bishop Eusebius of Vercelli climbed into the Monferrato hills carrying a wooden statue of the Madonna. Eusebius had just returned from exile in the East, where Emperor Constantius II had banished him for refusing to condemn Athanasius and abandon the Nicene faith. The bishop who had introduced communal religious life to Western clergy—first among Western prelates to unite the monastic with the clerical life, according to St. Ambrose—now sought sanctuary ground for his people. The statue he placed at Crea became the seed of a sanctuary. By the eleventh century, the hilltop church drew pilgrims of considerable rank: King Arduino of Italy commissioned improvements to the church, and Augustinian canons from the Abbey of Vezzolano established a community to serve the growing number of visitors. In 1589, Costantino Massino, Prior of the Lateran Canons at the sanctuary, initiated construction of a devotional path modeled on the Sacro Monte of Varallo. His vision shaped the hillside over the following decades. Artists including Guglielmo Caccia (known as il Moncalvo) painted frescoes in the chapels, while sculptors Giovanni and Nicola de Wespin—called Tabacchetti—and Michele Prestinari filled the spaces with life-sized terracotta figures. Between 1604 and 1612, the Wespin brothers created over three hundred statues for the final chapel depicting Mary's coronation. French revolutionary troops severely damaged the complex between 1796 and 1801. The sanctuary itself was destroyed in 1801, and in 1809 the church and monastery were sold at auction. Franciscan Friars Minor assumed custody in 1820 and began decades of restoration, supported later by Archbishop Nazari di Calabiana of Milan. The systematic campaign that continued into the 1920s preserved both the surviving Baroque masterworks and added new sculptural programs, including Leonardo Bistolfi's emotionally charged figures for the Ascent to Calvary chapel (1887–1889). In 1992, diocesan priests from Casale Monferrato took over pastoral care. UNESCO recognition followed in 2003.

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☩ Pilgrimage Sites

Sanctuary of Santa Maria Assunta

Santuario della Beata Vergine di Crea → Via Santuario, 1, 15020 Serralunga di Crea AL, Italy → 45.1017, 8.2750 → Google Maps → sacromontecrea.it → Dedication: The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption) The hilltop sanctuary preserves the heart of Crea's pilgrimage tradition. The thirteenth-century wooden Madonna venerated here is traditionally associated with St. Eusebius of Vercelli, though the present statue dates from that later period. The church anchors the devotional complex and serves as the destination for the chapel-lined ascent through the surrounding natural park.

The Chapels of the Sacro Monte

Twenty-three chapels punctuate the ascending path through the 34-hectare natural park. The first two chapels honor St. Eusebius—depicting his martyrdom and rest—before the route turns to the mysteries of Mary's life across Chapels 3 through 23. The path climbs through field elm, cherry, hornbeam, oak, and chestnut on the northern slopes, while downy oak and manna ash grow on the sunnier southern face. The flora was catalogued by the nineteenth-century Casalese polymath and photographer Francesco Negri.

Chapel 23: Il Paradiso (The Coronation of the Virgin)

The culminating chapel presents an overwhelming vision of heaven. The Wespin brothers populated the cylindrical interior with over three hundred polychrome terracotta figures arranged in three concentric rings. The Virgin receives her crown from the Trinity while apostles, saints, martyrs, and angels witness from every level. The effect, completed between 1604 and 1612, represents the most ambitious sculptural program among all the Sacri Monti.

Chapel 16: The Ascent to Calvary

Leonardo Bistolfi's sculptures (1887–1889) bring emotional intensity absent from earlier Baroque statuary. His figures convey the weight and sorrow of Christ's final steps with a realism that marks the late nineteenth-century restoration period.

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🕯️ Feast Days & Events

Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15) – The sanctuary's patronal feast draws pilgrims from across Piedmont to celebrate Mary's bodily assumption into heaven, the mystery depicted in the climactic Chapel 23. Feast of St. Eusebius of Vercelli (August 2) – Commemorates the bishop credited with establishing the original sanctuary around 350 AD.

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🛏️ Accommodations

The nearest lodging options are found in Casale Monferrato (approximately 20 km), the principal town of the Monferrato region.

Budget

Casa Cristina – B&B in Casale Monferrato's historic center with free WiFi and balcony. Guests praise the cleanliness, comfortable beds, and excellent breakfast.

3-Star

Business Hotel – Located just off the A26 motorway at the Casale Sud exit, offering outdoor pool, free parking, and air-conditioned rooms. Convenient for pilgrims arriving by car. Hotel Principe – Central Casale Monferrato location near the Cathedral of Sant'Evasio and the Museo Civico.

4-Star

Cascina Faletta – Pool with panoramic views over the Monferrato vineyards. A peaceful base for exploring the region's sacred and viticultural heritage.

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🚗 Getting There

By Air: Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP, 95 km), Torino Caselle Airport (TRN, 80 km), or Genova Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA, 90 km). Rental cars available at all airports. By Car: From the A26 motorway (E62), exit at Casale Sud. Follow SP 457 toward Asti and Moncalvo, then follow signs for Sacro Monte di Crea at La Madonnina di Serralunga di Crea. Parking is available near the sanctuary. Motor vehicles and bicycles are forbidden in the historical area without authorization. By Train: Regional trains serve Casale Monferrato station on the Alessandria–Mortara line. From the station, local buses or taxis cover the remaining 20 km to Serralunga di Crea. On Foot: From the village of Serralunga di Crea, the sanctuary is approximately 5 km on foot.

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📚 Further Reading

Peter Tomaselli, Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy – UNESCO World Heritage documentation with maps, photos, and conservation reports for all nine Sacri Monti.

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🔗 Useful Links

Sacro Monte di Crea Official Site – Sanctuary information, visiting hours, and spiritual programs. Parco naturale del Sacro Monte di Crea – Natural park details including flora, fauna, and walking trails through the 34-hectare protected woodland. Visit Monferrato – Regional tourism portal covering the UNESCO vineyard landscape and cultural attractions. UNESCO Sacri Monti – World Heritage listing for all nine Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy.

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🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Sanctuary of Oropa (80 km) – The great alpine Marian sanctuary, also attributed to St. Eusebius of Vercelli, housing the Black Madonna of Oropa. Sacro Monte di Varallo (90 km) – The prototype for all Sacri Monti, founded in 1486 to recreate the Holy Land with over forty chapels. Abbey of Vezzolano (35 km) – Romanesque Augustinian abbey with remarkable sculptural façade and frescoed cloister. Sacro Monte di Orta (100 km) – Dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, with twenty chapels overlooking Lake Orta. Basilica of Superga (60 km) – Juvarra's Baroque masterpiece crowning the hills above Turin, built in thanksgiving for the city's deliverance from siege.

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🥾 Pilgrim Routes

Sentiero SVC (Superga–Vezzolano–Crea) – A 65-kilometer walking route linking three major Piedmontese pilgrimage sites: the Basilica of Superga above Turin, the Abbey of Vezzolano near Asti, and the Sacro Monte di Crea. The trail crosses the Monferrato vineyard landscape, typically completed in three to four days.

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🪶 Closing Reflection

"These places, despite the crisis of faith that is affecting the contemporary world, are still perceived as sacred spaces to which pilgrims go to find a moment of rest, silence and contemplation in today's often hectic life."

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— Pope Francis, Sanctuarium in Ecclesia (2017)