Chiesa di San Giorgio

Central aisle – Credits: Associazione Amici di San Giorgio

The Church of Saint Giorgio is one of the most important historical and architectural properties of the Canavese’s territory. It was built in the 10th century initially as a noble family chapel of the Castle. The romanesque bell tower with the elegant marble-made mullioned windows and the cloister of the near parish house date back to this period. The church was expanded between the 14th and the 15th centuries in its current configuration of late-Gothic style building. Inside it, preserves a cycle of frescoes made by various Masters from pictorial schools and from different ages. The fresco in the presbytery “The passion” is was credited in the mid of the 1400s by Giovanni di Pietro de Scotis. (www.amicisangiorgiovalperga.it) The Church of Saint Giorgio, almost unique of its kind, was decorated both internally and externally with frescoes and valuable terracotta friezes. The external frescoes were lost except for one “The Adoration of the Magi” still visible as incorporated in the "New Sacristy" with the expansion of the church. Interesting the frescoes on the vault of the third chapel of the lateral aisle that compose the scenes from the Childhood of Jesus.

Frescoes on the vault with scenes from the Childhood of Jesus - Credits: Associazione Amici di San Giorgio

In 1884, the famous architect Alfredo D’Andrade reproduced the frescoes of the southern facade, therefore still visible, in the church of the Borgo Medievale of Turin. From the church parvise, surrounded by the Castle vineyards once, it is possible to see the South-east side of the Sacred Mount of Belmonte and its Sanctuary. Instead heading South, it is possible to observe a view of the valley beyond the historical centre of Valperga, in direction of the villages of Busano and Rivarolo Canavese until the hills of Turin.

 

Chiesa di San Giorgio

 

Affresco della volta con scene dell'Infanzia di Cristo - Credits: Associazione Amici di San Giorgio