Sacro Monte di Crea
Sitting on the highest hill of the Monferrato wine country, Sacro Monte di Crea is home to a trail featuring 23 chapels and a handful of small hermitages that winds through a wooded park. Uniquely each historic chapel holds a scene built from life size painted terracotta figures staged against frescoed walls, like a frozen moment from a story. You will usually have to photograph them through a grille or window in the chapel door. This makes the interiors dim so you will have to work with available light, push your ISO, and steady yourself on the frame of the opening or bring a small tripod. The largest one is at the Paradise chapel at the top of the hill featuring a round room packed with hundreds of saints, angels, and figures rising toward the dome. It is the most dramatic interior here and often needs a guided tour if you want to access this chapel's interior. Outside, the walk itself is also quite photogenic with light filtering through old oaks and chestnuts along the path. From the top you get wide views over the surrounding vineyard and the Po valley, which look best in the soft light near sunrise or sunset. The paths mix steps, cobbles, and gravel and climb steadily, so factor in the uphill walk. There is lots of parking options and the grounds are free to wander, though each individual chapel opens on varying seasonal hours so may want to check ahead of time before setting out on your shooting adventure. (Serralunga di Crea, Piedmont, Italy)
