Sacro Monte di Crea

The Sacro Monte di Crea (which means "Sacred Mountain of Crea," even though it is actually built on a hill) is a special place for Roman Catholic people. It is located in the area of Serralunga di Crea in Piedmont, in northern Italy. To reach this sanctuary, visitors travel up a steep, winding road that goes through a beautiful wooded park. The plants in this park were studied and recorded by Francesco Negri, a photographer and scientist from Casalese.

Sacro Monte di Crea is one of nine important sacred sites known as the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. Because of its history, beauty, and importance to many people, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. This means that the world recognizes it as a place of great value and tries to protect it for everyone to enjoy.

History

Construction started in 1589 around an old sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary. People believe this sanctuary was created by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli around the year 350 AD. Eusebius is also said to have placed the statue of the Madonna that people still honor there today.

There are chapels around the very old Marian sanctuary in Basso Monferrato. These chapels are special because they are dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary. Over time, the design of the sanctuary changed many times. In 1820, big restoration work started after part of it was damaged.

The park

Since 1980, the woods and some farmland around the Sacro Monte have been protected as the Parco naturale del Sacro Monte di Crea. This park covers 34 hectares (84.0 acres) and is a special place where visitors can see some plant species that are rare today.