Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso in Leggiuno, the real magic on the lake Maggiore

Hard to say something original about Eremo of Santa Caterina del Sasso: this place is sacred under many point of views, for example for the reasons was built for.

You do not have to be pilgrims to find , in the Hermitage , moments of authentic spiritual recollection.
The rock that is embedded within the entire structure literally hangs over our heads. It ‘ a white limestone which is reflected in the lake amplifying the halo effect of the whole. Coming from the lake, in a boat, it seems a dream to find a church in such harmony, suspended between the rock and the water . The boats deposite tourists and devotees on a pier nearby, while other people stroll along the quiet porches and through the courtyard before entering the main church.
They stop to look at the curious scene of a Dance of Death , painted in the Convent , a columned porch opens onto the lake.
You see on one side, some skeletons that go through the mill and shocked you, while on the other side an expanse of water of lake appease you, puts peace in your soul.
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Then , after entering the gate, in the mai church you are showered with light and colors given by large high windows.
Even if you are not trained and you don’t study history of art, and you are not able to   understand if a fresco is of higher quality than another , or in what era it belongs to, you eyes are strucked by the many stories that the walls look to need to tell everyone.
Stories of the Holy Scriptures and the lives of saints , of course, but also of Blessed Alberto Besozzi, of which there is a relic. Besozzi was a wealthy landowner in the area that choose to spent the rest of his life here, after a tragic storm in the lake. A kind of miracle convinced him to give up his possessions and money to devote himself completely to God and meditation.

Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso in Leggiuno www.santacaterinadelsasso.com
Via Santa Caterina, 13 21038 Varese Leggiuno 0332 647172
Visit time: 1 h
Admission: Free.
Hours: March: Every day from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00
From April to October: Every day from 8.30 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 18.00
FROM NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY: Closed weekdays, Open Saturday, Sunday and Holidays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 Mass on Sundays and Holidays 16:30
FROM 23 DECEMBER TO 6 JANUARY: Every day from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00
Group visits by appointment only
Difficulty Disabled: none.