Santa Maria del Sasso Parish Church, Catholic parish church in Morcote, Switzerland
Santa Maria del Sasso is a Catholic parish church above Morcote, built from the 13th century and enlarged between 1462 and 1478 into a Romanesque-Renaissance structure. Its axis was reversed in 1578 when a choir was added to the south side. Inside, frescoes date from 1480–1490, 1513, 1595 and 1611, including work attributed to Domenico Pozzi and Giovanni Battista Tarilli.
The church began in the 13th century as a small votive chapel dominating Morcote, and was greatly enlarged between 1462 and 1478, taking its Renaissance form. In 1578 it was radically transformed in Baroque style: a choir was added on the south side, reversing the basilica's axis, and a new high altar was made. Restoration followed in the late 19th century, possibly under Gaspare Fossati, and again in 1936, 1948–49 and 1967–80.
The 404-step staircase was built in two campaigns: part in 1732 and part between 1861 and 1863 by Giacomo Rossi, whose statue stands in a niche at the foot of the last stretch. Inside, the oldest frescoes date to 1480-1490 in the south-eastern bay, while the former choir holds 1513 paintings attributed to Domenico Pozzi, called Sursnicus of Puria.
Reaching the church means climbing a long outdoor staircase with hundreds of steps, so comfortable shoes and a slow pace help. Once at the top, take time to walk around the outside terraces before entering, because the hillside position gives clear views over the lake and rooftops.
The long staircase was built in two separate campaigns, with the upper section completed in the 1730s and the lower stretch added more than a century later. At the foot of the final section, a niche holds a statue of Giacomo Rossi, the local figure who oversaw part of that work.
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