Of the eight sites that I visited, there were few similarities. Most had artistic and colourful dioramas depicting scenes on different Biblical themes.

Belmonte - I reached by train from Turin Porta Susa to Valperga, then a long climb up via Battista led to the Sacro Monte. The road became a slippery track, and the shrines were in poor condition

Oropa - I reached by bus #2 from Biella San Paolo station to the sanctuary. The Sacro Monte was easily reached on an adjacent hillside

Ossuccio - I reached by bus #C10 from Como's San Giovanni station. Two routes led to Piazza San Giovanni, the via del Santuario and the steeper via Castello. The first of the shrines adjoins the piazza. The views of Lake Como alone make the climb worthwhile

Varallo Sesia - I reached by train from Novara. A cable car took me swiftly from the village to the Sacro Monte on a rocky plateau overlooking the village

Orta San Giulio - was a short walk from Orta Miasino station. The shrines here have stunning dioramas

Domodossola - I walked from the station to via al Calvario where I found the first two shrines, from where a muddy track led up the the others

Ghiffa - I took a bus from Verbania station to Intra, then another to Ronco village. From here it was still quite a climb up to the Sacro Monte

Varese - I reached by bus C from the station to the sanctuary and the shrines of the Sacro Monte.