Church of Santa Lucia (Chiesa di Santa Lucia) description and photos - Italy: Alta Valtelina (Topic)

Church of Santa Lucia (Chiesa di Santa Lucia) description and photos - Italy: Alta Valtelina. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Chiesa di Santa Lucia.

Photo and description

The Church of Santa Lucia is one of the most artistically interesting churches in the famous Italian ski resort of Alta Valtellina. It is located in the outskirts of Bormio in the Valdisotto region. The first mentions of it date back to the 12th century. The current building of the church consists of two naves, the smaller of which was the original church, and the larger is the result of reconstruction and expansion of the building. Most likely, the reconstruction of Santa Lucia took place in the 15th century. Fragments of a fresco depicting San Cristoforo to the left of the main entrance date from the same period. The church is decorated with a six-tiered spire, and the bell tower standing next to it is decorated with an octagonal lantern with a "onion head".

The interior decoration of Santa Lucia is of particular interest from the point of view of the frescoes preserved in it. The apse of the smaller nave is entirely covered by a cycle of mid-16th century drawings attributed to Cipriano Valorse. On the back wall, you can see the image of the Annunciation made in the style of traditional iconography - an angel on the left, a figure of the Madonna on the right, and God the Father in the center. Below are the figures of St. Martin on horseback and St. John the Baptist. On the left wall there are images of Saints Rocco and Sebastian, and on the right - scenes from the life of Saint Lucia. The Arc de Triomphe is decorated with the figures of the four wise men, and on the left are grotesque caryatids that support the arch.

During the restoration work carried out in the 1960s, on the site of the frescoes temporarily removed from the right wall, a fragment of a 12th century Romanesque fresco depicting Saint Cecilia was discovered. This fresco is now kept in the Bormio Museum.

The right wall of the main nave is decorated with a polyptych, probably by Giovanni Andrea de Magistris. On the left is depicted San Nicola of Tolentino, the Madonna and Child sits on the throne, and next to them are Saints Anthony, Rocco and Sebastian. This creation dates from the first half of the 16th century. The main altar stands out with a 17th century altarpiece.

We also recommend reading The Georgian House description and photos - Great Britain: Edinburgh

Topic: Church of Santa Lucia (Chiesa di Santa Lucia) description and photos - Italy: Alta Valtelina.