Chiesa di S. Croce

The age-old Parish Church of Bleggio holds the wood from the Holy Cross

Chiesa di S. Croce #1
Chiesa di S. Croce #1
Chiesa di S. Croce #2 | © Foto Archivio Apt Terme di Comano
Chiesa di S. Croce #2

The church of Santa Croce is the seat of the ancient Pieve del Bleggio and dominates the wide basin of the Outer Valli Giudicarie. Since 1624, the church has been safeguarding the wood of the Holy Cross, which has been attributed with miraculous properties. Nonetheless, the building itself is much older in origin. A Romanesque crypt can be reached from inside the church and leads to a striking 11-12th century temple, whose central part has remained almost intact. The current building instead constitutes one of the few examples of a religious building in the pure Renaissance style in the Trentino area. Its look results from the 16th century re-styling by Lombard architect Antonio Gras. The skilled craftsmen who worked on it at the beginning of the 16th century, looked back at Renaissance architectonic lay-out of Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Trento, which Prince-Bishop Bernardo Clesio had commissioned in those same years. Indoor it features a number of paintings harking back both to that time and to following ages, as well as frescoed decorations by Carlo Donati.

The wooden altar located in the Holy Cross Chapel - with the Pietà as well as scenes from the Passion of Christ - houses the Holy Cross, which has been worshipped for over three centuries and is renowned even outside the Giudicarie area. Legend has it that a shepherd fashioned the cross using the trunk of two larches as a sign of gratitude for favours received. Deemed miraculous, the cross was taken on a procession to La Guarda, on Monte San Marino to beg God's protection against natural disasters, famines and war up until a few years ago.

 

Contact & Directions

APT Garda Dolomiti
Via Battisti, 74
38077 Ponte Arche , Italy

Weather Garda Trentino and Valle di Ledro

Today
Max Temp. (C): 17°
Temp. Min. (C): 11°
Nov 05
Max Temp. (C): 16°
Temp. Min. (C): 10°
Nov 06
Max Temp. (C): 16°
Temp. Min. (C): 9°
Trentino Weather forecast


You may also like ...

49 results
Sanctuary of San Romedio

Sanctuary of San Romedio

The Sanctuary of San Romedio, an enchanted place full of spirituality.

Santuario della Madonna dell'Aiuto

Santuario della Madonna dell'Aiuto

Deep in the wood, the Sanctuary stays in the shade of a centuries-old...

Church of St. Valentines

Church of St. Valentines

The small church is located in Carpeneda, a little hamlet near...

 Basilica dei SS. Martiri di Sanzeno

Basilica dei SS. Martiri di Sanzeno

The cathedral commemorates the Evangelists Sistino, Martirio and...

Pieve di S. Maria Assunta

Pieve di S. Maria Assunta

The Parish of Santa Maria Assunta, a jewel of sacred art, is the...

Chiesa di S. Biagio | © Foto Archivio Apt Valsugana

Chiesa di S. Biagio

A 13th century gem, the Church of San Biagio is located near Levico...

Chiesa parrocchiale di Predazzo | © Foto Archivio Apt Val di Fiemme

Church of Predazzo

Chiesa di S. Maria

Chiesa di S. Maria

Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance features come together in the...

Sanctuary of San Romedio

Sanctuary of San Romedio

The Sanctuary of San Romedio, an enchanted place full of spirituality.

Read more ...
Santuario della Madonna dell'Aiuto

Santuario della Madonna dell'Aiuto

Deep in the wood, the Sanctuary stays in the shade of a centuries-old lime tree

Read more ...
Church of St. Valentines

Church of St. Valentines

The small church is located in Carpeneda, a little hamlet near Folgaria

Read more ...
 Basilica dei SS. Martiri di Sanzeno

Basilica dei SS. Martiri di Sanzeno

The cathedral commemorates the Evangelists Sistino, Martirio and Alessandro, who suffered martyrdom in 397.

Read more ...
Pieve di S. Maria Assunta

Pieve di S. Maria Assunta

The Parish of Santa Maria Assunta, a jewel of sacred art, is the pride of Condino.

Read more ...
Chiesa di S. Biagio | © Foto Archivio Apt Valsugana

Chiesa di S. Biagio

A 13th century gem, the Church of San Biagio is located near Levico Terme, in an area of huge archaeological interest.

Read more ...
Chiesa parrocchiale di Predazzo | © Foto Archivio Apt Val di Fiemme

Church of Predazzo

Read more ...
Chiesa di S. Maria

Chiesa di S. Maria

Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance features come together in the Church of Santa Maria di Pellizzano.

Read more ...