Riserva Speciale del Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità di Ghiffa

Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità di Ghiffa Reserve

Except for the limited surface on which the Sanctuary lies, covered with lime trees and centuries-old plane trees, the wood covers the remaining part of the Reserve: from Sacro Monte (360m) it climbs to the summit of Mt. Cargiago (713m) and the surroundings of Pollino village (790m) and finally gets to Caronio country hamlet (500m).
In this area, the wood is dominated by chestnut trees and other broadleaf trees, above all oaks, lime trees, maples, ash trees, alders, and birches and is characterized by shrubs like the holly, the butcher's broom, the hazelnut tree, and the medlar tree.
Moreover, the woodland represents an essential ecosystem populated by roe deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels, martens, stone martens, while the wild boars and the deer are only occasional. Among the birds, it is necessary to mention the presence of the black woodpecker, a rather rare species living above all in the peaceful mountain woods.
The monumental complex characterizing Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità originated from the presence of an ancient late Romanesque-style Oratory.
The present Sanctuary was built between 1605 and 1618. After the demolition of the original Romanesque-style church, a large building was created as a continuation of the 16th century rectangular building dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which had been built close to the original Oratory. This section corresponds to the first span of the present Sanctuary and preserves the ancient front door facing the access path and two lateral windows. It still preserves the representation of the Holy Trinity, which is considered miraculous and has become the object of popular devotion.
Subsequent rearrangements led to the completion of the building between 1646 and 1761, with the addition of the bell tower, the portico in front of the Church, and the completion of the façade.
What you can see today is probably part of a greater and more articulated project which could not be completed: it should represent episodes of the Old and New Testament. The three 17th century chapels, dedicated to the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, and Abraham, were built on the shape of Sacri Monti from Lombardy and Piedmont, in a strong Counter-Reformation religious climate. The monumental area is completed by the Via Crucis portico built in 1752 and closed in 1761 in the north by Cappella dell'Addolorata.
The beautiful urban setting and the natural beauty of the place have contributed to make Sacro Monte not only a place of deep popular devotion, but also a meeting point and a place where traditional fairs and markets are held.

The Environment

As far as morphology is concerned, it is possible to identify two environmental units: the steep eastern slope (towards Lago Maggiore) and the western slope (rio Ballona basin), characterized by a gentler slope rich in small watercourses.
Except for the area of the cliffs, where it is always spontaneous, the wood was once divided between high forest and coppice wood, meeting the local economic needs which also justified the abundance of pastures, pastures surrounded by trees, and cultivated fields.

The current use of the wood is vice versa dominated by coppice wood, which has become the main covering. In the recent past the reforestation with exotic conifers - mainly white pine - has been carried out on the land which was no longer used as pasture, while the locust tree has rapidly colonized other areas subject to fires, damaging the precious local species.
The recent vegetational and naturalistic surveys included in Piano di Assestamento Forestale are the basis for the forest, naturalistic, and landscape requalification. This large wood surface, with its homogeneity and continuity, represents as a consequence an important and absolutely necessary ecosystem for all the naturalistic components deriving from it. This is above all valid for the faunistic aspects present in considerable varieties.

We signal the permanent presence of roe deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels, martens, stone martens, while the wild boars and the deer are occasional. Among the avifauna, it is necessary to mention the presence of the black woodpecker, a rather rare species living above all in the peaceful mountain woods. There are also different species linked to the wood of the hill like the great-spotted woodpecker, the green woodpecker, the jay, the fieldfare, the woodpigeon, and the buzzard.
In the wetland of rio Ballona and affluents it is pleasant, even if rare, to meet the deeper, the common kingfisher, and even the gray heron.
Among the minor fauna, you can frequently observe the common toad, the grass frog, the spectacled salamander, the common newt, the asp viper, the adder, and the rat snake.