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. The inhabited village, with its characteristic shady lanes, steep stairways and Art Nouveau villas, captivates visitors.
The Baroffio Museum and the Casa Museo Ludovico can also be visited at Sacro Monte. The Museo Baroffio offers a valuable collection of sacred art, while the Casa Museo Ludovico allows visitors to immerse themselves in the daily life of Ludovico Pogliaghi, an important artist and architect who contributed to the enhancement of the Sacro Monte complex.
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INFO
ADDRESS: Viale del Santuario - Varese
OPENING HOURS:
SANCTUARY:
SOLAR TIME 7.30-12.00 and 14.00-17.30
SUMMER TIME 7.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00
Holy Mass times:
HOLIDAY morning 7.30 - 9.00 - 11.00; afternoon 16.30 (from 1 October to 30 April), 17.00 (from 1 May to 30 September)
WORKING 8:00 and 16:45
CRYPT:
From 16 March to 17 November 2025
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 14.00 - 18.00 (no guided tours)
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10.00 - 18.00 (guided tours of the Crypt are scheduled every hour except 13.00)
The opening hours of the Baroffio Museum coincide with those of the Crypt.
USEFUL LINK: Museo Baroffio
HOUSE MUSEUM LUDOVICO POGLIAGHI:
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: from 10.00 to 18.00
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: from 10.00 to 13.00
Every day: for schools, by reservation
Open during the week for groups, by reservation.
USEFUL LINK: Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum
TICKETS LUDOVICO POGLIAGHI HOUSE MUSEUM:
Full ticket weekdays: € 7 (merc., thu., ven. hours 10-13)
Internal ticket public holidays: € 10 (Sat, Sun. and public holidays hours 10-18)
Cumulative ticket Pogliaghi House Museum + Sanctuary Crypt + Baroffio Museum: € 15 (daily valid)
Reduced ticket (for children and teenagers 6-18 years; groups over 15 people; FAI; Coop): € 5
Family ticket for single museum (2 adults + 2 children): € 20
Ticket only garden: € 2
Free ticket: children 0-5 years, disabled, tour guides in the profession, residents of Santa Maria del Monte and AML (Card Abbonamento Musei Lombardia)
CRYPT TICKETS:
Full day ticket (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday): € 7
Full holiday: €10
Cumulative three-museum ticket (daily validity): € 15
Reduced ticket (6-18 years, groups of more than 10 people, FAI members, AMEI): € 5
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 or more children): € 20
Free ticket: children 0-4 years, disabled, tour guides in the profession, card Abbonamento Musei Lombardia Milano.
For the holders of the Lombardy Museums Card Subscription, free admission on weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, a guided tour is available at an additional cost of € 3.00 per person.
Tickets also include a visit to the Baroffio Museum and a guided tour of the Crypt on public holidays.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Sacro Monte di Varese can also be reached by the Sacro Monte funicular, which departs from the 'Vellone' station and reaches the village directly: a small paradise of art, faith and nature.
To reach the funicular station by bus, you can take Line C from the centre.
From Monday to Wednesday, Line C runs (every 20 minutes) and terminates at Piazzale Montanari/Prima Cappella, from where you can easily take the Via Sacra on foot. Once every hour, a smaller bus provides a connection to the top of Sacro Monte (Piazzale Pogliaghi). The funicular does not operate.
On Thursdays and Fridays, Line C runs (every 20 minutes) to Piazzale Montanari/Prima Cappella, from where a connecting shuttle bus guarantees a connection to the Vellone station of the funicular: the funicular runs from 10 a.m. to 6.10 p.m.
To walk along the Via Sacra, it is necessary to get off at Piazzale Montanari/Prima Cappella (before the tunnel).
On Saturdays and Sundays, the funicular runs from 10.00 am to 6.10 pm. During this time slot, all Line C runs (every 20' on Saturdays, every 30' on Sundays) to the Vellone station to guarantee the interchange. To walk along the Via Sacra, you must get off at Piazzale Montanari/Prima Cappella (before the tunnel).
The bus ticket costs €1.60 and is valid for 90 minutes: it can be conveniently purchased on board by coin or contactless credit/debit card.
Dog of all sizes allowed in leasch in every area except the crypt in compliance with the hygiene and public safety rules*
*Information by Sacro Monte di Varese. For any other question please check the guidelines of Sacro Monte di Varese
NEI DINTORNI:
ATTENTION: FOR ANY TIME CHANGES AND REGULATIONS IN FORCE, PLEASE VISIT THE RELEVANT ORGANISATION'S ONLINE SITE.
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