ecumenismo, cristianesimo, cattolicesimo, protestantesimo, ortodossia

The Sacro Monteof Serralunga di Crea stands on a hill approximately 400 metres above sea level.

The origin of the locality is owedto Saint Eusebio, bishop of Vercelli, and there, around 350 A.C., he supposedly carried the wooden statue of the Virgin with the Child and there he allegedly had a first oratory constructed. Actually, the statue of the Virgin belongs to the 13^th century and little is known as to its origin.

It was Arduin, King of Italy, at the beginning of 11^th century, to desire that the place have an outright church, able to receive the ever-increasing number of pilgrims. From this came the realization of a church of a reduced-size and a convent for the Augustinian Order.

The Sanctuary was run in 1468 by the Canonics of Vezzolano, by the Laterans in 1798, by the Servites until to 1801, from 1820 until 1992 by the Minor Franciscans. It is currently managed by the Curia of Casale.

On the baroque style façade a mosaic stands out, it represents Our lady of the Assumption to whom the church is dedicated.

Inside of the Sanctuary, a nave and two aisles with pointed arches and cross vaults, holds important works of art: the Virgin with the Child and Saints, the autograph table of Macrino d’ Alba(1503); the cycle of frescoes with the Histories of Santa Margherita d’ Antiochia (Saint Margaret of Antioch) of the 15^th century.; the effigy of the Virgin, a wooden statue of the 14^th century; the immense collection of ex voto; the Stations of the Cross and the ambos of L. Bagna.

In the vicinity of the sanctuary, rises the Sacro Monte (Sacred Mountain).

Built in 1589 by will of Costantino Massimo it contains twenty-three chapels and five hermitages, inside of which the Mysteries of the Rosary are narrated.

After a period of abandonment, due to Napoleonic abolitions, in the course of the 19^th century an intense work of chapel renovation and restoration was carried out and extended into the 20^th century.

Now the chapels are in all 23, originally they were 15 and were dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary, then other chapels were built and dedicated to the martyrdom of Saint Eusebio and to the life and Glory of our Virgin Mary. In the hermitages figures of Saints and mystical moments are portrayed: Saint Luca - Saint Francis - Saint Rocco – Our Mother of Sorrows – Burial Ground of the Friars.

From Turin (80 km) with SS 31bis, to Trino follow the indications for Asti.