The monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso, carved into the rock on the Eastern Bank of Lago Maggiore, once served as a refuge for hermits, and today is one of the tourist attractions of the lake. Despite its remote position, to get to the monastery is possible from both land and water.

The construction of a Roman Catholic religious complex began in the 13 th century, but most of the work was conducted from 1300 through 1320 years. Part of the frescoes decorating the interior of the monastery dates back to the 19th century. The complex includes the Church, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and two monastery buildings. It is believed that the founder of the monastery was St. Alberto Besozzi from the town of Arola, which, happily avoiding death in a shipwreck, took a vow to Saint Catherine and lived in a grotto near future monastery until the end of his life. The relics of blessed Besozzi today kept in the Church.

Say that the name of the monastery del Sasso (Stone) – was given after 1640, the year it collapsed part of the rock. In 1670, the year he moved to the Carmelite order, and a hundred years later was abolished. Despite this, in 1914, the year the monastery was declared a national monument, and in 1970, the year it was purchased by the government of the province of Varese, which was initiated restoration work.

Today to get to Santa Caterina del Sasso, down a long winding staircase or the Elevator, built in 2010-m to year, and with the help of a ferry, which docks at a local Marina.

In 1977 in the monastery were filming some scenes from the movie "the Room of the Bishop" Dino Risi, and in 1989, the year he appeared in the film "the Betrothed" of Salvatore Nocita on the short story by Alessandro Manzoni.