Palazzo Parella (Cappelle 20-21-22-23-33)

At first glance, Palazzo Parella is a curious hybrid: two distinct rectangular bodies joined at a corner, like a hinge between two worlds. The ground floor is a stone-paved portico, orderly and cool, which leads to three chapels, Cappelle 20, 21 and 22, each painted with scenes from the Passion. There is also a small souvenir shop, run by the Sacro Monte’s religious administration, which feels almost apologetic among so much devotion. Upstairs, a pair of symmetrical staircases rise from the portico to the first floor, where you find the custodian’s lodging, the Sacro Monte Museum, and some seasonal apartments. The building is typical of the Renaissance penchant for marrying the sacred with the practical: a place for pilgrims to rest, pray, and perhaps buy a memento, all under one pragmatic roof.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.