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What is it and where is the Oratory of St. Gregory
The Church of San Gregorio, guardian of history and art, tells its saga through its stones and frescoes, a heritage steeped in devotion and testimony to the inexorable passage of time. We are in Caslino d'Erba, in the province of Como, and before us is a facade so simple that it does not even look like a church. The elliptical churchyard, surrounded by a walled enclosure with the chapels of the Way of the Cross, removes all doubt. Before entering we admire these very chapels, frescoed in 1760 by the Torricelli brothers and restored in 1928 by Luigi Morgari.
Why it is special: the frescoes in the small oratory.
Inside, the oratory presents a single hall, divided by a round arch, with a rectangular presbytery and a sacristy added in the 18th century. The frescoes that fill the small space are very very striking: they create a feeling of recollection in an out-of-this-world place. They also have a troubled history: made in the 16th century, they were hidden under layers of plaster during their use as a lazaret, and brought back to light during restoration.
Not to be missed: what are the frescoes about?
Sts. Roch and Sebastian, St. Odilia, St. George and St. Gregory the Great emerge on the walls. The vault features decoration that recalls plant forms and roundels with God the Father, Evangelists and Prophets. The triumphal arch, decorated with frescoes from 1920 by the Bertacchi brothers, closes the visual narrative. Other works, such as the 1547 paintings and the 1770 polyptych by Giovanni Antonio Conca, which enrich the interior, are also preserved in the small church.
A bit of history
The Church of St. Gregory, whose date of construction is shrouded in mystery, draws its roots from ancient Rome, as indicated by the artifacts found in the square in front of it. During the Lombard age, the site may have been a cemetery chapel, and until the 14th century it was dedicated to St. George. Over the centuries, the structure was transformed, assuming its present appearance and being located at a higher level than the street level.
Fun fact: a music festival to see the little church
The oratory of San Gregorio in Caslino d'Erba is difficult to visit: it belongs to the parish, and is often closed. The right opportunity comes every year in the summer with the San Gregorio and San Rocco Festival. It is an event featuring art and music, a unique opportunity to help the Parishes of Caslino d'Erba and Castelmarte in their projects to restore the churches of San Gregorio and San Rocco.
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Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
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