The Parish Church of San Gaudenzio in Baceno is without doubt one of the best religious symbols in the whole of Val d’Ossola, but that’s not all it is.
Documents recording the existence of a primitive chapel date back to the 11th century. The rectangular building was located on the site of the current chancel. The Church of San Gaudenzio, built in Romanesque Lombard style, was dedicated to the first bishop of Novara.
The main extension is thought to have been completed between the 12th and 13th centuries, and then in 1326 the cleric Signebaldo built the Chapel of the Madonna. Located at the end of the current nave, it still houses beautiful frescoes dedicated to the life of the Madonna, although they were damaged in the 1700s when some work was carried out in the chapel.
Following the Council of Trent, the Church of San Gaudenzio in Baceno underwent new works which altered its structure, while the 31-metre (102 ft) tall bell tower with a square base was built in 1522-23.
The splendid Romanesque façade is completely stone and on the right-hand side features a giant Saint Christopher painted in 1542.
The Monumental Parish Church of San Gaudenzio in Baceno is at its best at night, thanks to recent works to install spotlights highlighting the church’s most important architectural features. Finally, it’s an excellent starting point for a walk to discover another jewel of this Ossolan valley: the Orridi di Uriezzo ravines, a natural pearl of rare beauty.
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