Church of St. Rocco - Lower Ossimo

Church of St. Rocco - Lower Ossimo

Location

Chiese
Itinerari: mappa rossa

It was built in a rural area, as wanted by the community, probably after a vow due to a plague that struck the town in 1504. The ancient structure repeated the build of a big sanctuary, open on the front, with an arcade to welcome pilgrims and wayfarers; a railing kept from access to the presbytery and to the small vestry. In 1580, during his visit, Cardinal Carlo Borromeo decreed that the church was lengthened and closed with a face fitted out with a door and an “eye”. On 27 September, 1573, in the records of his visit, Monsignor Pilati recalls that this church had been erected for devotion by the Neighbours of Lower Ossimo and that together with Saint Rocco it was in memory of Saint Sebastiano. In 1658, Bernardino Faino reports that this church put up the “Disciplines”. In 1817 it was used to put together the ill affected  by epidemic plague. In 1876 it was restored and endowed with a bell tower. On 6 April, 1945, a bomb partly destroyed it. In 1953, the Parish Priest Don Giovan Maria Spiranti and the whole community decided to rebuild it, and at the beginning of the 21st century it underwent a conservative restoration.
WHAT TO SEE
In the central wall of the presbytery the altarpiece is a statue of Saint Rocco, made by the Tyrolese sculptor Luigi Kostnef.
IN THE SURROUNDINGS
Upper Ossimo: parish church of St. Gervasio and Protasio; church of St. Carlo; ethnographic Museum Ossimo Ieri, set up in a 15thcentury home. Lower Ossimo: parish church of St. Cosma and Damiano; Asinino – Anvòia Archaeological Park, to go into depth on the subject