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The Madonna del Sasso sanctuary is on a spur over the Lake Orta at 638 m height. From the square in front of the church, called 'the Cusio's balcony', there is a great view on the lake, the Mottarone, the Alps and the Novara area.
For centuries the white granite strata on which the church is built has been used as ashlar. Originally there was a chapel here devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows, dating back to the 16th century. In the square women used to bleach the home-made canvas.
Thanks to the many graces occurred, it was decided to build a church as a substitute for the small chapel. In the church was preserved the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was believed miraculous.
The present complex was promoted by the local Pietro Paolo Minola, who received a grace and decided in 1706 to finance the construction of a new sanctuary. The works began in 1725, thanks to the contribution of the inhabitants. In 1748 the church was complete, while the bell tower and the parish house were finished in 1760. The sanctuary was consecrated in 1771 by the bishop of Novara.
The church has a Greek cross design in a Baroque style with two lateral altars; the architecture and the frescos were made by Lorenzo Peracino. The altarpiece, coming from the old sanctuary, is a panel painting by Fermo Stella and represents the Pietà.
References:The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).
The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.
The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.
The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.