Big Treasure In A Less Known Village
If Your Eyes Are Opened, You'll See The Things Worth Seeing
Joseph Murphy: “Infinite riches are all around you if you will open your mental eyes and behold the treasure house of infinity within you. There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract everything you need to live life gloriously, joyously, and abundantly.”
This church is located a little outside the town and does not look presentable or interesting. If you studied art and architecture, you immediately understand that the church is ancient: its Romanesque appearance and the slit window, as well as the type of masonry of the bell tower, leave you no doubts. But you think the building has surely been abandoned for a long time and has nothing intriguing inside.
That's what I thought, too, and I was wrong.
The complex consists of three parts: the church, the bell tower, and the building of the confraternity of Santa Marta.
There is a parking lot near the complex, and I have been parking there for many years when I visit this little town. But this time, a miracle happened: the church was open! Obviously, I couldn't resist entering.
The first thing you see are the columns, clearly from the early Middle Ages. Then, the decorations on the walls. At first glance, it seems that they are covered with stucco in the baroque style. But no, these are drawings! It's all painted.
When you look at the altar, you notice it’s made from marble. Even the most important churches in Piedmont rarely have marble altars. This church must have been very rich once.
Royal families and princes had such rich churches. How could this church, forgotten by the people and by God himself, be so rich?
There are frescoes from the 14th century and the one below is particularly beautiful.
The large chapel was previously separated from the church and belonged to the confraternity of Santa Marta. People who cared for the poor, sick, and needy. The brotherhood and the church's parish priest never got along so much that the brotherhood invited another parish priest for their needs.
In the 19th century, the wall was demolished and became part of the church.
This drawing is very interesting, as it was once in the brotherhood. Surely, it was made by someone inexperienced, and people's clothes are very curious.
The most precious icon of the whole church also belonged to the brotherhood because on the left we see Saint Mars with his brothers. Since they did works of mercy, they covered their faces so they could not be recognized. Anonymous work.
Not only was the altar itself rich. It has a richly embroidered cloth in front of it.
On the left is a beautiful and large nativity scene made by a 92 year old believer of grass. When you are in Italy do not forget that visiting nativity scenes brings good luck.
I left the church very impressed. I wonder who the rich man was who rebuilt the church in the 18th century. It wasn't written, and no one could explain it to me.
They say Biella was a very rich city because of the many industries in the area, and many factory owners started building their houses outside the city. Maybe that was the reason. I don't have the answer for now.
I really didn't expect to find such an interesting church. Very often, in the most remote places, you find treasures that you do not expect, once abandoned by the inhabitants but still preserving their treasures.
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