Albergo Ristorante Sacro Monte — Restaurant in Varallo

Vecchio Albergo Sacro Monte Varallo.

We took a weekend Easter break at the Sacred Mountain of Varallo in Northern Piedmont and stayed at the Vecchio Albergo located at the entrance to the pilgrims trail.

The Albergo is a small family run boutique hotel and an ideal place to visit both the historical “New Jerusalem” complex and the adjacent mountain park. Angela and Eliza were most charming and helpful hosts, the rooms were nicely furnished and comfortable and they squeezed in a table for us at Sunday lunch, in spite of have a full house with a party of over 100 people.

The food was excellent, equal to the best of Piedmontese cuisine, and we were very impressed by the delivery and timing of the 7 courses, not easy at such a big function. We own and run an Agriturismo near Asti so we know about these things. Both the room and lunch were very reasonably priced, not expensive at all.

The Sacre Monte di Varallo is more than just a devotional pilgrimage site; it is a World Heritage Site and a depository of some of the most incredible mediaeval art and sculpture and was built over 500 years ago to simulate Jerusalem and the Stations of the Cross. The works of art are in relatively good condition and in the original natural settings set in a well maintained park with gorgeous views. The air was so clean and fresh and the only sounds are of birdsongs and trickling waterfalls.

It is definitely a place to visit if you are interested in art, history or in recharging the body...

A superb dinner in this bygone era setting with exquisite cuisine 😋🤩

For all those who love to immerse themselves in a not-so-distant past, full of charm and authenticity. It offers the old-world spirit of a family hotel restaurant, far from the characterless standards of franchised establishments... The restaurant serves traditional dishes full of flavor, and the entrance to this breathtaking setting in the Sacromonte Chapels is... at the door! The prices also have a slightly "old-world" feel, much more reasonable than one might expect for this type of cuisine...

I can only speak for the restaurant, which was like visiting a place from the good old times. Everything is extremely well kept and shows great care, flowers are everywhere. 🌸🌺💐🌸 The staff is so friendly and just wonderful. The food I would call average, which is not bad at all, since this is still Italy. Prices are absolutely reasonable. The atmosphere definitely is what makes this place stand out, which was fine by me. I had a great time here and I would gladly come again...