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Chiesa di San Nicola del Sacro Monte di Orta

The Church of St. Nicholas of the Sacred Mount of Orta

It was just around the XIth century Church of St. Nicholas (or San Nicola di Mira) that a huge complex consecrated to St. Francis of Assisi was planned, designed and realized at the time of the Counter-Reformation, about the end of the XVIth century; a place that now occupies the whole promontory at the back Orta San Giulio. In the past, San Nicola di Mira was the parish Church of Orta; it was like a patronage that embraced the village from Heaven. In 1538 the wooden set of Madonna della Pietà, which is still worshipped, had been the protagonist of a miracle that began attracting many pilgrims; it is possible that this extraordinary event stimulated the realization of a sacred area that now represents one of the most important sacred destination in Piedmont.

The Church of S. Nicola di Mira, even though it presents a proto-Romanesque plan, was completely readapted during the XVIIth century, when it became the culminating point of the Sacred Mount path. Only 20 chapels out of the 36 planned were realized, and they were all consecrated to St. Francis’ life. Franciscan Friars officiate church ceremonies and live in a small adjacent friary even today. In the past, they used to occupy another bigger outlying building near the church, which today is a private dwelling.

After covering the chapel`s route, in an itinerary that rises gently along the promontory up to the 400-meter top, you will find the church courtyard; from this spot you can enjoy a fine view over the lake. Inside the Church there are many works of art such as the wooden Pieta: the Virgin Mary is the protagonist of the XVIth century miracle, the “Redeemer’s Mother”, and the statue is kept in a baroque niche. Still inside, you can admire a Nativity, on the right of the high altar, which is a painting by Camillo Procaccini, and many other canvas and paintings by outstanding figures in the pictorial art field of the 18th century such as Cantalupi and Busca.

The Church’s plan was redone on the basis of the mother Church`s structure of the Sacred Mount of Orta, the Basilica Inferiore of St. Francis of Assisi. The whole itinerary is filled with the Franciscan spirit thanks to the backed clay statues embedded in the chapels telling the story of Francis’ life, from his birth to the stigmata that he received at La Verna. Then, as a conclusion, here is the Church, inspired by Assisi’s architecture and consecrated to both St. Nicholas (as it was from the Middle Ages) and St. Francis, the new guest of the promontory and new model of holiness for all the pilgrims that, during the centuries, have covered these routes, praying in this spot filled with religious spirit. A place that fascinates by itself, thanks to its beech and lime-tree woods, to the views that you can enjoy during the ascent and to the landscape that welcomes the pilgrim at the end of the route...

Information:
Chapels are open every day except for Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day, New Year’s Day, Epiphany and on January 31th.
Open hours: in winter, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

St. Nicholas` Church is officiated by Franciscan Friars Minors (Tel. 0322 90149).
Holy Messes hours:
During summer time: in working days at 5:00 p.m. – in holidays at 11:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m.
During solar time: in working days at 4:00 p.m. – in holidays at 11:00 a.m. and at 4:00 p.m.

Via Sacro Monte, 6 - Orta San Giulio (NO)
Tel. +39 0322 911960
Fax +39 0322 905654
Web www.sacromonteorta.it



Zone
Il Lago d`Orta

Locality
Orta San Giulio