Ex Voto: An Account of the Sacro Monte or New Jerusalem at Varallo-Sesia

Step into the marble‑clad world of the Sacro Monte at Varallo‑Sesia, a hillside sanctuary that strives to recreate the holy sites of Jerusalem. The narrator guides listeners through winding paths lined with life‑like terra‑cotta statues, each tableau frozen in perpetual devotion, while vivid collotype photographs bring the stone chapels into sharp focus. Along the way, anecdotes from 19th‑century visitors and personal reflections reveal how the site blends faith, art, and the surrounding Alpine landscape into a single, immersive pilgrimage.

Beyond the visual splendor, the work delves into the mysteries of its creators, weighing the contributions of sculptors such as Michael Angelo Rossetti and the enigmatic Paracca. Detailed discussions of Tabachetti’s surviving pieces at the nearby sanctuary of Crema add a scholarly layer, inviting listeners to consider how art, attribution, and devotion intertwine. This blend of travel memoir and art‑historical investigation offers a richly textured portrait of a place where history and holiness stand side by side.