A rediscovered gem: the church of Santa Maria a Castegnato.
Franciacortino passa da qui!
Summary
Franciacortino, il grande giro della Franciacorta è arrivato a Castegnato e, lungo il suo percorso, posa lo sguardo su un luogo ricco di significato: la piccola Chiesa di Santa Maria. Realizzata tra il XIV e il XV secolo e inizialmente dedicata a san Giovanni Battista, funse da parrocchia sino al XVII secolo quando venne realizzata la nuova Parrocchiale.
The bell tower was erected in 1698, after the construction of the new church. The building took on its new name after undergoing conservative restoration in the late 1990s.
The card:
From Oldofredi Castle in Paderno Franciacorta to the church of Santa Maria in Castegnato.
From Piazza Libertà, take Via San Gottardo, taking the second exit at the small roundabout and entering Via della Corona. Immediately after, turn left, following the entire road, leaving the ancient stone wall on your left.
At the first crossroads, turn right onto Via della Brana, then left onto Via Mirabella. You'll now be on one of the town's main streets, which you'll follow past the roundabout to join Via Zini. Then, turn right onto Via Trento, the road that leads out of the municipality of Paderno Franciacorta toward Castegnato. After passing the industrial area, you'll reach Via Cavour, which leads into town from the countryside along a stretch lined with numerous black locust trees and surrounded by cultivated fields. It then enters the town and, after a traffic light, joins Via Trebeschi. Following this road, you'll pass the town hall and, after a few dozen meters, you'll reach the small church of Santa Maria.
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La chiesa di Santa Maria rappresenta uno dei luoghi più antichi e significativi della storia di Castegnato. In origine l’edificio non era dedicato alla Madonna, ma a San Giovanni Battista, come attestano le fonti che ne collocano la costruzione tra il XIV e il XV secolo.
With the construction of the new parish church dedicated to St. John the Baptist (1692), it lost its role as a parish church and was gradually converted to other uses: an elementary school, a municipal office, and a seat for local associations. This phase altered its original appearance, especially the exterior, while the interior retained architectural traces of great value, such as the wooden attic and the structure of the bell tower.
A major restoration project, undertaken in the late 1990s, restored the small church's dignity and liturgical function, returning it to a secluded and harmonious space. During the work, significant archaeological finds emerged, including a collective burial and masonry structures from different eras, testifying to the building's long history.
All’interno della chiesetta si possono ammirare alcune opere scultoree dell’artista Nazareno Panzeri, frate francescano e scultore italiano noto per le sue composizioni religiose che uniscono profondità spirituale e sensibilità artistica. Le sue opere, diffuse anche in piazze e luoghi di culto in varie parti del mondo, incarnano una visione della scultura al servizio della fede e della bellezza sacra, offrendo un ulteriore livello di contemplazione per chi visita Santa Maria.
Only after the restoration was completed did the church take on its current name:
"The restored little church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and simply given the title “Saint Mary.” That name embraces all the gifts that God bestowed upon the Virgin, just as it gathers together all the commitment Mary devoted to fulfilling the Word of God. Thus we shall invoke the Virgin in our times of need; thus we shall thank her for the protection received; thus we shall contemplate her as a model of life. Saint Mary, pray for us!" [Don Renato Firmo – parish priest of Castegnato from 1991 to 2011]
Founder of Franciacortino
I explore Franciacorta by bike, pedaling slowly through stories, roads, and details.
