The Sanctuary of the Crucifix at Boca, an imposing Neoclassical church designed by the great local architect Alessandro Antonelli, is one of the most interesting buildings on the Novara hills.

Surrounded by luxuriant woods and vine-covered hillsides, in an isolated position far from the centre of the village, the crucifix in question was an object of devotion for wayfarers, whose veneration increased towards the mid-18^th century when the sacred image was said to have cured an epileptic child and saved a merchant attacked by robbers. The resulting flood of worshippers demanded the construction of a first church, which very quickly had to be enlarged into what is now the grandiose building we see today, between 1822 and 1917.

The sanctuary’s façade is largely covered by an imposing portico, reached by a broad flight of steps. The interior is a great barrel vault with a span of 17 metres, supported by a single order of columns.

The Sanctuary is still a site of pilgrimage for people from all over Piedmont. It is also the starting point for a number of hiking trails into the Novara hills.