The hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso (officially known as the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso Ballaro) is a monastery perched on the steep eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, in the municipality of Leggiuno (VA), Italy.
History
According to tradition, the origins of Santa Caterina del Sasso date back to the 12th century. A merchant and moneylender named Alberto Besozzi from Arolo survived a shipwreck while crossing the lake. In gratitude, he vowed to devote the rest of his life to prayer and solitude in a cave along this stretch of the shore, dedicating himself to Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
There, he built a chapel in her honor, which can still be seen today at the base of the church. Later beatified, his remains now rest inside the church. The monastery complex was established around the 14th century with the construction of two additional churches, dedicated to Saint Nicholas and Santa Maria Nova.
Initially, the complex was briefly managed by the Dominican Order, followed by the monks of the Order of Saint Ambrose ad Nemus from 1314 to 1645. In 1670, Carmelite monks from Mantua took over, maintaining the monastery for nearly a century until its suppression in 1770. Since 1914, the hermitage has been recognized as a national monument.
On June 4, 1970, ownership of the site was transferred from the parish of Leggiuno to the Provincial Administration of Varese. From that moment, extensive restoration and structural reinforcement efforts were undertaken to preserve the sanctuary, leading to its reopening in the 1980s. Between 1986 and 1996, it housed a Dominican community, and today it is maintained by Benedictine Oblates.
