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Campiglia Cervo (Biella)- Oratory of St. Paul the Apostle
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Show to visit in the Biella area: |
 The Oratory of St. Paul the Apostle is located in the Driagno hamlet of Campiglia Cervo, a charming village characterized by the fact that the main street is still the original one: a narrow pedestrian alley paved with river pebbles in the middle and on either side.
The oratory is certainly one of the most elaborate in the Cervo Valley. While the structure usually comprises a single rectangular nave, this one features a Greek cross plan.
The current oratory dates back to the first quarter of the 18th century, but it likely arose on the ruins of an ancient chapel dedicated to St. Lawrence. Work began in 1721 and was financed by Giovanni Antonio Maciot. It was listed as completed in the pastoral visit of 1731. It was subsequently remodeled between 1771 and 1790.
The structure is made of granite stone with brick inserts and is only partially plastered on the outside. The facade, like the structure in general, is more elaborate than other oratories in the area. It is vertically traversed by four broad pilasters with a base, a capital, and an overlying brick cornice. These brick inserts form three sorts of cornices that punctuate the façade horizontally. The entrance door, slightly raised and preceded by a small flight of five steps, features a stone portal. Above it is what was perhaps a frame for a plaque, but remained empty, and, even higher, a window that interrupts the two upper brick cornices and the base of the large triangular tympanum at the apex, into which it almost fits.
To the left of the façade, a little further back, is the bell tower with its clock.
The interior, completely plastered, is, as mentioned, in the shape of a Greek cross, with two side chapels that form the branches of the cross. The walls are punctuated by pilasters with double capitals. Above them is a composite cornice that extends along the entire perimeter of the church, except for the counterfaçade, which is occupied by a large wooden choir loft.
The branch of the cross that forms the entrance to the church has a barrel vault with lunettes, the two side chapels have a barrel vault, the apse has a composite vault, while the center of the church is covered by a dome with God the Father at the center, while the pendentives contain the four evangelists.
The two side chapels have altars in an imitation of polychrome marble. The left chapel features an altarpiece depicting the Annunciation, the right one an altarpiece depicting the Trinity with Saint Peter and Saint Julius, the patron saint of bricklayers (hence the presence, among other things, of a compass and a set square in the painting). There is a window in the lunette on the back wall of each of the two chapels.
Note that there are also several other false windows.
The Baroque-style high altar may be made of real stone. Note that the altarpiece does not depict Saint Paul, but rather the Immaculate Virgin with saints.
The three altarpieces are all from the eighteenth century.
The church is also enriched by a beautiful wooden confessional, benches that are likely old, and numerous paintings hanging on the walls, starting with those of the Stations of the Cross.
Finally, the relatively large sacristy, with a vaulted ceiling decorated with stucco and housing a large ancient wardrobe, is also worth mentioning.
Categories: Places of historical value
45.650723, 8.010209 |
Oratory of St. Paul the Apostle: Further pictures in the section Photography |