A walk to… the church of San Maurizio in Pinerolo

A walk to… the church of San Maurizio in Pinerolo

If you are looking for a short excursion to discover the beauty of Pinerolo, in a small free time from daily commitments and maybe bicycling, then this mini tour to the church of San Maurizio is right for you.

Starting from Hotel Barrage to explore the charming old town of Pinerolo, then go up along the impressive Principi d’Acaja street: you will reach the top of a hill, walk along a tree-lined avenue where you can also rest on comfortable benches in the shadow, and at the end you will arrive on the square of the church of San Maurizio from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the city and even on the brightest days to see Turin.

You are in the hamlet where in the Middle Age was the heart of the city’s economic and political life, unfortunately there are still few traces since it was largely demolished during the Second French domination. The church, remained to showthe splendor of that thriving period, is dedicated to the Tebea Legion commander who refused to offer sacrifices to pagan gods as required by the Emperor Massimiano and therefore was martyred. We do not know for sure the foundation date of the church, but the first testimonies date back to the 11th century, when the structure was Romanesque.

First you will admire the terracotta exteriors and the circular windows of the end of the nineteenth century, the salient façade will allow you to already understand the interior structure of the church while the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie partially conceals polygonal apses and the dome with its white marble façade. You will take a look at the Gothic bell tower and its clock that curiously only has the hour hand: it is the first quadrant clock running simultaneously with a single mechanism.

You will then enter in an absorbed atmosphere church and recently renovated, with five naves, cross vaults finely frescoed as if they were embroidered in 1889 by Ferrero brothers and Mario Cavallini resting on ogre arches and bicromous cruciform pillars. All enriched by a white marble altar, peculiar side chapels in which, among other things, the remains of the Princes of Acaja are overgrown, and illuminated by rosettes that offer suggestive shadings and effects.

When you leaving, if you have chosen the best time of the day, you will be surprised by the sunset colors that make this one of the most romantic places of our beautiful Pinerolo.

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