According to tradition, the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso (75 km from Milan) was founded in the 12th century by Alberto Besozzi, a rich local merchant who, after having survived a heavy storm while crossing Lake Maggiore, decided to give up his worldly goods and live the life of a hermit. The particular appeal of this hermitage (which contains important frescoes) is mostly due to its astonishing location, perched on a rocky overhang with a sheer drop down to the Lake.