| ALBATROS Bed & Breakfast b&b near of lake Orta Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso |
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The sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso is situated on a spur jutting granite on Orta Lake at 638 m altitude, in the territory of the municipality in the hamlet of the same name Boleto. The square in front of the church, called "the balcony of Cusio", offers a spectacular view of almost the entire lake, the Mottarone, the Alps and the plains towards Novara. The sacred complex is composed of the church bell tower and the parish house. For centuries, the white granite rock on which stands the shrine was used as a cut stone. Here, at the foot of Mount Avigno, in the beginning there was only a small chapel dedicated to Madonna Adolorata, most probably in the early 16th century. On the square, called "linen lawn”, under the hot sun, women from the village wore hand made linen for bleaching. Only later, after various graces and miracles, and when the place became known, was made the first church, in which the statue of the Madonna del Rosario was placed in a hollow, considered as astonishing. For the present complex is decided due Boletesu Minola Pietro Paolo, who had received the grace of Our Lady, and decided that with his forces he’d made a new sanctuary to replace the old. The work began in 1725, thanks also to the residents of Boleto. In 1748 the church was completed, while the bell tower and the house were finished only in 1760. The Bishop of Novara dedicated it officially in 1771. The church has a Greek cross in Baroque style, with two lateral altars, architecture and painting works are the work of painter-architect from Valsesije Lorenzo Peracino. the pictorial work on the altar (a part of the old sanctuary), is from Fermi Stella Caravaggio, presenting a "Pieta" (Grace). In 1998, the Temple was completely restored for its 250th Anniversary.  |
