Place of Worship
Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso
Leggiuno (VA)
included The Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso is a monastery situated on the Lombardy side of Lake Maggiore. The complex is reached via a long, scenic flight of steps and comprises the southern convent, the Conventino and the church. Set against a backdrop of sky and water, it is one of the region’s most visited and fascinating monuments.
A a scenic staircase of around 250 steps leads to the Hermitage, founded around the end of the 12th century from the merchant Alberto Besozzi I’d give it a Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Egypt, after surviving a shipwreck on the lake. Following this miracle, Besozzi withdrew to this place to live in prayer and solitude, dwelling inside a cave.
Today, a range of historical and architectural features coexist harmoniously, preserving the the allure of medieval spirituality at the perfect meeting point between art, faith, history and nature.
What to See Inside
- The Chapter House: one of the most impressive rooms, adorned with splendid frescoes dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.
- The Church: the true spiritual heart of the complex, the result of successive transformations that have taken place between the 13th and 18th centuries.
The following are housed inside the church:
- Le relics of Blessed Alberto Besozzi.
- Numerous cycles of frescoes featuring stories from the life of Saint Catherine.
- A 14th-century crucifixion.
- The chancel and the altarpiece, featuring a cycle dating from 17th century.
Perched on a rock face overlooking Lake Maggiore, the Hermitage is set amidst a unique natural landscape, making a visit there a truly unforgettable.
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