Serralunga di Crea – Art and trails at the Sacro Monte

The Sacro Monte di Crea is the cultural landmark of a trip to Serralunga di Crea: the municipality is considered a starting point for discovering its artworks. There are also walking trails in the municipality and a Monferrato landscape of vineyards, woods and ridges. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Serralunga di Crea, these themes can help you match the character of the destination to your travel plans.

History and art at the Sacro Monte

The Sacro Monte di Crea was founded in 1589 at the initiative of Costantino Massino. Since 2003, it has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. The sanctuary is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. One notable artistic feature is the Cappella del Paradiso, also called the Incoronazione di Maria: it houses more than 300 terracotta and plaster statues. The scene depicts the coronation of the Virgin Mary by the Trinity. The name and the scene depicted give this place a clear religious and artistic focus.

Walking trails and hiking route

There are three easy-to-moderate walking trails in the municipality of Serralunga di Crea, combining nature, art and culture. The “Intorno al Bric Castelvelli” hiking trail runs through Crea, Serralunga and Ponzano and takes about three hours. The trail to the Sacro Monte di Crea starts at the edge of Serralunga di Crea and climbs uphill over 23 stages. The Cappella del Paradiso stands at the summit of the hill reached by this trail. This gives you different points of reference for planning: about three hours on the “Intorno al Bric Castelvelli” trail and 23 uphill stages on the route to the Sacro Monte.

The Monferrato landscape and regional themes

The Monferrato landscape around the Sacro Monte is characterised by vineyards, woods and ridges. The trail to the Sacro Monte di Crea passes through the Riserva Naturale Speciale di Crea. The municipality of Serralunga di Crea is also home to Tenuta La Tenaglia, a historic Monferrato winery at the foot of the Sacro Monte. Art, protected nature and a connection to regional wine are thus different themes to explore on your trip.

Getting there and planning your visit

You can drive to the car parks at the Sacro Monte di Crea. Access is via Ponzano Monferrato or Serralunga di Crea. As road conditions can change, check the latest information before setting out. The Punto-info della Riserva del Sacro Monte di Crea is located in the car park near the entrance to the church square. During its opening hours, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, you can get tourist information and informational materials there. Check the hours before your visit if you plan to stop at the information point.

The events calendar may also play a part in choosing your travel dates: the Madonna della Neve festival and procession take place in the hamlet of Madonnina on the first Sunday in August. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the date for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Mongiardino Ligure, Figino, Pasturana, Borgo San Martino, Brignano, Palazzina, Frassineto Po, Serravalle Scrivia.

For the broader travel overview: Alessandria.