Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso ( it, Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso) is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

located in the municipality of

Leggiuno Leggiuno is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. It is the birthplace of Gigi Riva, a footballer of Cagliari and Italy. The great Italian operatic tenor Giuseppe Borgatti died there in retirement in 1950. Main sight ...

, in the

Province of Varese The province of Varese ( it, provincia di Varese) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Varese (population of 80,857 inhabitants), but its largest city is Busto Arsizio. The head ...

and the region of

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. It is perched on a rocky ridge on the eastern shore 16m above

Lake Maggiore Lake Maggiore (, ; it, Lago Maggiore ; lmo, label=Western Lombard, Lagh Maggior; pms, Lagh Magior; literally 'Greater Lake') or Verbano (; la, Lacus Verbanus) is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest la ...

. The monastery can be reached on foot by descending down a long winding stairway or by taking an

elevator An elevator or lift is a wire rope, cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or deck (building), decks of a building, watercraft, ...

or by a number of ferry services or boats that dock at the pier. The construction of the monastery dates from the 14th century, although the more recent

frescos Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...

are from the 19th century. It consists of three buildings: the southern convent, the convent and the main church. In 1914 it was declared a national monument. You get the best view of Santa Caterina from the ferry boat on the Lago Maggiore, and the first thing you see is that the monastery consists of three chapels.

History

Albertus Besozzi founded Santa Caterina del Sasso, a wealthy cloth merchant who survived a violent storm at sea. After that experience, he lived as a hermit in a grotto at exactly this place. In 1195 he was asked for spiritual support by the residents of Lago Maggiore. In return, he asked to construct a chapel, Santa Caterina del Sasso. Albertus Besozzi died in 1205 and was buried there. This was the beginning of this fascinating monastery, and it was extended over the centuries. Inside are excellent frescoes from the 13^th to the 17^th century. The first chapel, the chapter house, was extended by an additional floor in the 17^th century, and the famous frescoes of the great crucifixion got heavily damaged. The main chapel is the most beautiful, with frescoes in the baroque vault in the nave. You will also find a wooden replica of the eremite in the back of the main chapel. Eremit of Catarina del Sasso

External links

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References

Christian monasteries established in the 12th century

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