Varallo is a town with one of the Piedmontese "Holy Mountains" entered in 2003 on the UNESCO list. Below the sanctuary standing on a hill there is a densely built up picturesque Old Town.
The town has a medieval origin, and its development was related to the sanctuary of the Holy Mount Varallo, founded in the 15th century. It includes the Baroque Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and a complex of over 40 chapels located in the garden and connected by pilgrimage paths. Since its construction, the sanctuary has been one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Piedmont.
The town below the Holy Mountain is situated on the river. The compact buildings of the Old Town hide many pretty tenement houses and city palaces. There is also the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can see magnificent Renaissance frescoes by Gaudenzio Ferrari. In the Old Town there is also the Palace of Museums, where you can learn about the history, culture and nature of this area.
