The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso

The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso lies in the territory of the village of Boleto, now part of the municipality that took its name from the sanctuary. It is located on a granite rocky spur over the lake of Orta: from the square below the church you enjoy such an exciting panorama that the place is called "the balcony of the Cusio". The church was completed in 1748 and the bell tower in 1760. The consecration of the sanctuary dates back to 1771.

The legend and the construction of the Sanctuary
Instead of the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso there was originally only a cross; this was after the death of a woman of Pella in the sixteenth century.

It tells the traditional legend that the jealous husband, returning from a war, suspecting being betrayed by the rumors of the country, during a violent quarrel pushed her to the cliff to kill her. Then, pitying, he returned to his footsteps, and finding her still alive, hanging on a branch, leaned to his rescue, stretched out his hand to save her but she did not trust and dropped into the void. A history of immense pain: here first came the cross, the symbol of pain, then a chapel was dedicated to Mary Addolorata. Then a church was built and the remains of the Shrine were built.