Dated to 1154, the charming cloister was built in mediaeval times although the foundations are definitely much older: it took many years to build and encompasses both the Romanesque and the Gothic eras. We know the architect behind the cloister was Lanfranco da Ligurno, a late twelfth-century “magister” sculptor, as he left his signature on the cloister, and the capitals at the head of the columns are recognised as the most valuable artistic element of the entire building.

The Sacro Monte of Varese is a place of great historical and artistic value in the Varese area, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2003. Its Via Sacra, a devotional path about 2 km long, is studded with 14 chapels, each dedicated to a Mystery of the Rosary and perfectly integrated into the surrounding natural environment. The highlight is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, which houses the Coronation of the Virgin Mary as the 15th Mystery of the Rosary, and the Romanesque Crypt, accessible by guided tour.

It is the oldest pile-dwelling settlement in the Alpine Arc and, since 2011, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”