Santa Caterina del Sasso: The Monastery in the Cliff Face
A hermitage directly above the water, on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore
Santa Caterina del Sasso – Monastery above Lake Maggiore
A Monastery Clinging to the Cliff
You can’t see Santa Caterina del Sasso from the road. Only when you descend to the lake does the cliff face draw closer, and the walls of the old monastery emerge between the trees. The complex is located near Leggiuno on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, already in Lombardy, and is built directly into the rock, just above the water. From here, you look across to the western shore and the Borromean Islands.
Santa Caterina del Sasso at a Glance
- Location: near Leggiuno, eastern shore of Lake Maggiore (Lombardy)
- Journey from Lakeview: approx. 1¼ to 1½ hours, via Luino or by car ferry Intra–Laveno
- Access: 268 steps from the free parking lot or elevator (€1 per ride), also by boat during the season
- Admission: €5, reduced €3, free for under 18s (as of 2026)
- Time required: 45 to 90 minutes for the visit
- Suitable for: Couples, families, culture enthusiasts, photographers
A Vow After the Storm
According to tradition, the merchant Alberto Besozzi from nearby Arolo was caught in a severe storm on the lake around 1170. He survived, vowed a life as a hermit to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and retreated to a rock grotto at this spot. The oldest chapel is dated to 1195. Over the centuries, more churches and monastic buildings were added, and Dominicans, Ambrosians, and Carmelites lived here successively. Under Maria Theresa, the monastery was dissolved in 1770 and fell into disrepair.
One of the most famous stories of the place tells of five large boulders. They fell from the wall onto the roof in the 17th or early 18th century and became stuck in the vault of the chapel above Besozzi’s tomb without causing it to collapse. They were only removed in 1910. In 1914, the monastery became a national monument, and in 1970, the Province of Varese took over the complex and had it extensively restored until 1984. Since 2019, a small community, the Fraternità Francescana di Betania, has once again lived here.
268 Steps or the Elevator
From the large, free parking lot at the top, a staircase with 268 steps leads down. It’s manageable, but the way back up in summer can be strenuous. If you can’t or don’t want to take the stairs, use the elevator built into the rock. It costs one euro per ride, payable with coins. For people with mobility impairments and their companions, it is free. Down below, the paths are stone and uneven, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
What You See in the Monastery
The tour begins in the southern convent with its colonnade of seven arches. In the chapter house, frescoes of the Crucifixion and Deposition are preserved, and in the refectory, a Last Supper from the 17th century. In the courtyard stands a large 18th-century wine press, indicating that wine was also made here. In the small convent next door, you’ll find remnants of a Dance of Death, a rare motif in the region.
The church combines several older rooms into one. In front of it is a colonnade from 1508, and above the altar hangs the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine from 1612. In the Chapel of San Nicola, a fresco from 1438 depicts Christ in Mandorla with the symbols of the Evangelists. The Romanesque bell tower dates from the 14th century.
Admission and Opening Hours
Admission costs 5 euros, reduced to 3 euros for visitors over 65. Children and young people under 18 are free. From mid-March to mid-October and during the Christmas holidays, it is open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM. During the rest of the year, the monastery opens on weekdays only from 1:30 PM, and all day on weekends. Visits are suspended during evening mass at 6:00 PM. 45 to 90 minutes are sufficient for the tour (as of 2026).
Getting there from Cannobio
By car, you have two options. One route goes via Switzerland, Locarno, and Luino along the eastern shore, about 74 kilometers and just under an hour and a half. The other goes via Verbania-Intra and the car ferry to Laveno. The ferry runs approximately every 30 minutes during the day and takes about 20 minutes across the lake. From Laveno, it’s then about six kilometers to the monastery. For many, the ferry option is the more scenic, as the crossing itself is part of the excursion.
During the season, scheduled boats from Stresa and Arona also dock directly below the monastery. From the water, you truly see how unusually the buildings are nestled into the cliff face. In the off-season, the station is not served, so please check the timetable of Navigazione Lago Maggiore beforehand.
What Can Be Easily Combined
If you take the ferry, it is best to combine your visit with the bucket cable car to Sasso del Ferro in Laveno. You will float up to almost 1,000 meters in about 15 minutes in open two-person baskets. For a swim, the beach of Reno di Leggiuno is only a few kilometers away—a sand and pebble beach with a view of the Borromean Islands.
At the parking lot above, you’ll find the Locanda dell’Eremo with a bar and regional products, next to a meadow for a picnic. The light is most beautiful in the afternoon when the sun falls on the monastery and cliff face from the west.
Other Destinations on the Eastern Shore
If you arrive via Switzerland, you’ll pass through Luino. Every Wednesday, one of the largest markets on the lake takes place there; find out more on our page about the weekly markets. However, plan more time for the journey on market days, as traffic jams can occur around Luino.
The mountain station of the bucket cable car in Laveno is located at Poggio Sant’Elsa at 974 meters. From there, it is about a 20-minute walk to the summit of Sasso del Ferro at 1,062 meters. The cable car operates all year round except in January. Hikers can also reach the monastery on foot: a loop from Cerro via Reno and Santa Caterina to Arolo is about 18 kilometers long and takes around five hours, with plenty of opportunities for a swim along the way.
A good 20 kilometers further south, the Rocca di Angera towers over the lake. In the Borromeo family’s castle, a museum has displayed over 1,000 dolls, toys, and automatons in twelve halls since 1988. Additionally, there are 13th-century frescoes and a medieval garden. You should plan about two hours for the Rocca.
A Painting in the Sacello
A detail many overlook: In the oldest room, the small Sacello, a fresco from 1892 and 1893 depicts the hermit Alberto Besozzi in his grotto. His gaze extends across the lake to Isola Madre, just as you can still see it today from the monastery’s terrace.
Santa Caterina fits perfectly into a quieter vacation day when you don’t want too many plans. You can stay with us in a Mobile Home on Lake Maggiore, in a Holiday Apartment with Lake View, or on a Pitch for a Motorhome, Caravan, or Tent.
Insider tips from locals
To make your trip extra special:
- We recommend taking the stairs at least one way. For the return journey uphill, the elevator is a great help on hot days.
- If it fits your schedule, we recommend the view from the water: from a boat, you’ll best see how the monastery is built into the cliff face.
- We explicitly recommend a visit even on cloudy days. The old walls appear particularly impressive then.
- With small children, we recommend planning for the many steps and the return journey to the parking lot.
Questions and answers
Near Leggiuno on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, in Lombardy.