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Castelletto Cervo (Biella)- Parish Church of St. Thomas Becket
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Show to visit in the Biella area: |
 The church has very ancient origins, with the first version having been built in the twelfth century. The exact date, however, is unknown, as the parish archives were destroyed in a fire.
The currently visible version of the church, however, dates back to the radical renovation it underwent between 1714 and 1771. The façade is an exception, having been further modified at the end of the nineteenth century to bring it closer to the Renaissance style.
The church has a simple structure, with a single nave, a rectangular presbytery, and a bell tower set at the back left between the rear wall of the nave and the left one of the presbytery. The masonry is mostly made of river pebbles interspersed with bricks (sometimes arranged in continuous lines). The bell tower is an exception, entirely made of brick but with a high stone base. Only the façade is plastered. The latter is simple but not devoid of virtuosity, with the central section placed further forward than the lateral sections and connected to them by overlapping pilasters. It is divided vertically into two orders, punctuated by double and single pilasters and separated by a cornice. A second cornice separates the upper order from the curvilinear pediment. The central doorway features a portal with a round tympanum and is accessible via a short staircase as wide as the entire central section of the façade. The façade doesn't features distinctive decorations, except two empty cornices and two niches to the sides of the entrance containing frescoes depicting Saint Thomas Becket at two different stages of his life. In the right niche, he is portrayed in monastic robes, while in the left niche, he is depicted in his archbishop's robes and carrying a pastoral staff.
The bell tower is divided vertically by rather protruding cornices into segments of irregular height. The segment immediately below the belfry houses a clock.
The interior of the church has a single nave, with two chapels on each side and a fairly deep rectangular apse serving as presbytery and choir. The nave is divided into three sections by large arches; the first two spans are covered by two pavilion vaults, while the apse section is topped by a low dome. On the counterfaçade, a choir loft occupies the entire width of the nave and houses an organ.
The interior walls are punctuated by double pilasters with richly decorated capitals featuring plant motifs. Above them, separating them from the roof, is a double cornice, with a strip of stucco decoration in a neoclassical style inside in the middle, which extends along the entire interior perimeter.
The interior of the church is rich of colors, with nearly every surface covered in colorful decorations. The vaults of the two spans are filled with frescoes depicting in the center Saint Charles in Glory and Saint Thomas Becket, with two circular trompe l'oeil perspectives of circular terrasses open toward the sky in the background.
All four side chapels have the same structure: rectangular in plan, shallow, and barrel-vaulted.
First chapel on the left: It is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and serves as a baptistery. The back wall is occupied by a colorful polychrome marble altar with an architectural structure that houses an altarpiece depicting the Baptism of Christ in the center.
In a niche on the left wall is the baptismal font, covered by a large carved wooden cover. Note the trompe l'oeil window in the lunette on the back wall.
Second chapel on the left: It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The altar, also in polychrome marble, is particularly rich in decorations. The central niche containing a statue of the Madonna is surrounded by stylized clouds with cherub heads inside. At the top, within a rich floral frame flanked by two angels who may have originally been carrying a crown, is an oval depicting the Assumption of Mary. On the altar, at the sides, are two statues of saints, but no information identifying them has been found.
Note, in the lunette on the back wall, to the sides of the trompe l'oeil window also present here, are the depictions of Saint Dominic, on the left, and Saint Peter Martyr, on the right, rare examples in the Biella area.
Finally, on the side walls are depictions of the Mysteries of the Rosary.
First chapel on the right: It houses a colorful altar in faux marble. The altarpiece depicts the Madonna of Oropa surrounded by cherubs and adored by two saints. One of these is Saint Charles Borromeo, while the one on the left is dressed in Roman soldier's armor and could therefore be, for example, Saint Alexander or Saint Defendens. Unfortunately, no information on this could been found.
Second chapel on the right: It appears to be dedicated to Saint Joseph, but here too, certain information is lacking. The chapel is dominated by colors ranging from dark yellow to brown. The altar, with an architectural structure, is in faux marble. In the center, within a niche, is a statue of Saint Joseph, with statues of the Madonna and Saint Joseph on either side. Above, a mixtilinear frame flanked by two cherubs depicts the Flight into Egypt.
On the lunette of the back wall, next to a window with a rich stucco frame, are depicted two saints, likely Saint Teresa of Avila and perhaps Saint Anthony the Abbot.
The side walls depict episodes from the life of the Holy Family, and on the vault, Saint Joseph in glory.
The late Baroque high altar is made of polychrome marble and is very sumptuous. It lacks a retable, but the decoration on the back wall (with three windows) echoes its style so well that, when viewed from the right distance, it seems to blend in with it. In the center of the back wall hangs a large painting depicting the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket.
Above the altar hangs a carved and gilded wooden canopy, richly decorated with cherubs and plant motifs. At the center of the dome covering the presbytery is a depiction of God the Father, while the four evangelists are depicted in the pendentives.
Categories: Places of historical value of artistic value
Via XXV Aprile, 2, 13851 Castelletto Cervo BI |
Parish Church of St. Thomas Becket: Further pictures in the section Photography |