The Area
Varallo, the Sacro Monte, and Valsesia at the foot of Monte Rosa
Varallo, our town
Varallo is the historic and cultural capital of Valsesia, a tourist town surrounded by mountains and crossed by the river Sesia. Its historic and artistic heritage is rich: important churches, period villas, historic palaces, medieval districts, and three museums — including a Pinacoteca, the second most significant collection in Piedmont. The historic centre, with its main square and the Collegiate Church of San Gaudenzio, retains an authentic and lively character. Adding to the atmosphere is the wild nature of Valsesia, the greenest valley in Italy. The hotel is about a fifteen-minute walk from the square, in a quiet residential area.
The Sacro Monte: a jewel of art and faith
The town owes its renown to the Sacro Monte, the most important and oldest in Europe, which dominates the village from atop a rocky cliff. The monumental complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds great significance — not only religious, but also historical and artistic: it consists of forty-five chapels, with paintings of exceptional artistic value and more than eight hundred life-size statues that depict the life of Christ along a path winding up through the woods. Reachable on foot or by cable car from Varallo's centre.
Activities and sports in Valsesia
Valsesia stretches over 80 kilometres from the valley floor to the glaciers of Monte Rosa. It is a paradise for hikers, mountaineers, cyclists, and river-sport enthusiasts — a natural playground for everyone who loves the mountains and outdoor sports. Beyond Monte Rosa and everything the Monterosa Ski area can offer — one of the largest in Europe — the river Sesia also plays a leading role in the valley, ideal for rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and canyoning.
Fly fishing was born in Valsesia, and the area remains a favourite for sport fishing, thanks to the purity of the waters of the Sesia and its tributaries. Known as the greenest valley in Italy, Valsesia offers a complete immersion in lush nature: with its network of trails and cycle paths, it is the perfect place to rediscover the charm of unspoilt, wild landscapes.
