Preface Chapter 1. Samuel Butler Encounters the Sacri Monti Butler's Intellectual Odyssey Butler Explores the Sacri Monti After Butler Chapter 2. The Val Sesia. Society and Politics Geography and History Economy and Society Varallo Chapter 3. The Foundation of the Sacro Monte of Varallo Bernardino Caimi, the Observant Franciscan Pilgrimage to Jerusalem The Act of Foundation Patronage: the Scarognini Family Caimi Takes Possession of the Sacro Monte Caimi's Project The First Guide Book to the Sacro Monte Parallels Chapter 4. The Sixteenth Century. From Gaudenzio Ferrari to Carlo Borromeo Political and Social Conflict Gaudenzio Ferrari and the Sacro Monte The Spectators' Response Conflict between the Fabbricieri and the Observant Franciscans The Libro dei Misteri The Era of Carlo Borromeo Chapter 5. The Seventeenth Century.

The Era of the Counter-Reformation Patronage and Local Politics Bishop Bascape The Expulsion of the Observant Franciscans Bascape and the Artistic Development of the Sacro Monte Pilate's Palace The Era of the D'Enrico Brothers The Basilica of the Virgin War and Plague The Rebellion of 1678 and its Aftermath Chapter 6. The Eighteenth Century. The Val Sesia under the House of Savoy The Transfer to Savoyard Sovereignty Completing the Sacro Monte Enlightened Absolutism versus Ancient Privilege The Reformed Brothers Depart Chapter 7. Varallo as Model. The Later Sacri Monti The Sacri Monti as a System? Orta Crea Oropa Ghiffa Varese Sacro Monte Calvario Domodossola Ossuccio Belmonte Graglia and Arona Similarities and Differences Epilogue. Revolution and Restoration Appendices Bibliography.