We have arrived at the third and last appointment to discover theHermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
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The High Altar
The main altar is made up of two Corinthian semi-columns which support a very varied architecture which in the upper part contains a fresco representing the Annunciation.
On the sides of the altar we find Blessed Caterina da Pallanza on the left and Blessed Giuliana da Verghera on the right, founders of the Sacro Monte monastery.
The central altarpiece represents the mystical wedding of Saint Catherine in the presence of the Virgin holding the Child, Saint Nicholas and Blessed Albert.
This work was also carried out by the painter Giovanni Battista de Advocatis from Milan. It contains the figures of all the Saints venerated in the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
St. Catherine's Chapel
The chapel of Santa Caterina is located in the center on the side facing the mountain. The visitor's attention is caught by two angels fluttering above the altar holding a scroll with the writing 'From suffering you receive the crown of joy and glory' of the 16th century.
On the altar there is a life-size painted wooden statue. In the vault of the central nave facing us, we find the cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance with an octagon with cherubs in the centre.
On the north arch we find the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
The Chapel of Blessed Albert
In a narrow space between the rock and the chapel we find the chapel of the Blessed Alberto. It is here that the blessed was buried and now we can see his body excellently preserved in a casket.
The frescoes, rather ruined by time and humidity, represent the Pietà in the center flanked by Santa Caterina and Blessed Alberto.
On the left wall we find San Giovanni Battista.
Chapel of the 'Sassi'
A curiosity about this chapel lies in the name with which it was remembered over the years: the chapel 'dei sassi'.
The reason dates back to an event from the 17th century. Two enormous boulders broke away from the mountain and, falling, remained miraculously suspended in the void, stuck in the structures of the vault of the collapsed chapel.
For two centuries curious people from all over came to see the boulders stuck in the ceiling of the chapel. On the night between 11 and 12 May 1910, they fell to the ground without any further damage to the structure and fueling the rumors of a 'miracle'.
They remained lying on the ground until 1983, when they were removed to proceed with the restoration of the entire building.
The Shrine
We now come to the oldest building of the entire Hermitage, namely the chapel.
Dating back to 1195, it was built at a decidedly lower level than the rest of the church. Legend has it that it had to reflect the dimensions of the tomb of Saint Catherine of Alexandria which is located on Mount Sinai.
Above the external window the transport of the Saint's body to Sinai by the angels is represented. At the sides we find two faithful and some friars.
On the façade stands out the fresco representing the mystical wedding between Sant'Ambrogio, Sant'Agostino and San Gregorio Magno. These paintings date back to the 16th century, but have unfortunately been ruined over the centuries.
The entire chapel is housed inside a kind of small temple supported by two columns with Ionic bases and capitals, by a square pillar and directly by the rock.
In the north archway there is a fresco from the late 1800s. This work portrays the Blessed Alberto praying in a cave from which the lake and Isola Madre could be seen.
And here we are at the end of this journey through mysticism, spectacular landscapes and art history.
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