Switzerland and the adjacent portions of Italy, Savoy and the Tyrol : Handbook for travellers / by K. Baedeker. With nineteen maps, seven plans and seven panoramas.

Karl Baedeker

Date:: 1867

Credit: Switzerland and the adjacent portions of Italy, Savoy and the Tyrol : Handbook for travellers / by K. Baedeker. With nineteen maps, seven plans and seven panoramas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

519/572

$to Varallo. Orta and Varese, and the plain of Lombardy. In descending on the W. side (to the r.), the traveller overlooks the fruitful Val Sesia, with its numerous villages The path, again traversing groves of chestnut and walnut-trees, carpeted with turf and wild- flowers, now leads through the Val Duggia to (i hr.) Civiasco and (1 hr.) Varallo (1219 ft.) (*Italiai *Posta; Falcove Nero), the principal village in the valley of the Sesia, which is frequently dry in summer. The old town and the Sacro Monte, when seen through the arches of the bridge, have an extremely picturesque aspect. The *Sacro Monte, the object, of numerous pilgriniiiges, rises in the immediate vicinity of the town. It is altiiined in l/i hr. by a path, sha- ded by beautiful trees, but the enjoyment is somewhat dimimshed by the importunities of numerous beggars. The summit, surmounted by a chapel and crucifix, commands a magnificent view. Besides the church, fountains etc , there are in all 46 Chapels or Oratories on the Monte Sacro, many ot them buried among the trees. They all contain representations of scenes from the life of the Saviour, in terra cotta, with life-size figures arranged in groups. Each chapel is devoted to a ditferent sulijecl; the 1st, tor example the Fall, the 2nd the Annunciation, and so on to the 4bt,h, which contains'the Entombment of the Virgin. Some of the frescoes by relegrino Tibakli and Oaurlrmio Ferrari are well worlhv of inspection-, even the ex- ternal decorations are not entirely devoid of interest. This ''iV»oi>« Geru- salemme nel Sacro Movie di Varallo' was founded by Bernarcbno Caloto, a Milanese nobleman, with the sanction of Pope Innocent VIII. As a resort of pilgrims, it did not come into vogue until after the visits of Cardinal Borromeo (p. 373;) in 1578 and 1584, from which period most of the chapels date. Varallo is admirably adapted as head-quarters for excursions to the neighbouring valleys; it is easily accessible, and in beauty and grandeur of scenery surpassed by no other Alpine district. The carriage-road to Arona descends the picturesque valley of the Sesia to (6 M.] Borgo-Sesia, (TVs M.) liomagnano (Post); quitting the Val Sesia, it then crosses the mountains to (T'^M.) Borgomanero, and (6 M.) Arona (p. 373). — Omnibus twice daily from Varallo to Novara, junction of the railways to Arona, Milan, Alefsandria (Genua) and Turin. Comp. Baedeker's N. Italy. From Varallo to Macugnaga (p. '-'62) several mountain paths lead, all fatiguing, and traversing difficult passes. The shortest (15 good hrs.) leads by Carcoforo in the Val Sermen7.a and the Col di Bo- tiggia (Passo Plana). From Varallo by Vahnarie/in and Vorm to Bnl- mucda in the Val Sesia is a drive of 1V'2 (One-horse carr. 6 fr. inclu- ding fee.) The entire Val fierinenza must then be ascended <m loot by a, rough half-paved path, by Horriuletlo and Riniaxro (the higher of the two poor, but expensive inns is t,he better), in 5 good hrs. to Carcoforo, where an experienced guide should he engaged for crossing the pass. In the \at tH Quarasza into whicji t,he pedestrian descends to the N.W., are two magnificent waterfalls, freqnentlv visited by travellers on their way to Macugnaga from the N. or E. From Carcoforo to Macugnaga 71/2 brs. — Another p,-<,th leads from lliiiiaaro (see above) N.W. through the Vnlle. IHccola to liima (poor inn), 7 hrs. from Varallo, whence another extremely faticuing pass C'Lillle Turlo'), by no means recommen- ded, traverses the mountain tf) the Val <li Quarazza (from Rima to Macug- naga 8 hrs.). — Others prefer making a digression to Alarnia (3705 ft., see below), in a singularly beautiful situation, and the Tiirlo i'as.!., which like the last mentioned is extremely arduous and uninteresting. — Another$