Église Saint-Michel de Villefranche-sur-Mer, Baroque church in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Saint-Michel Church is a baroque building with a Latin cross layout whose nave is lit by round windows above the side aisles. The ceiling features pink-ochre decorations that create a warm character throughout the interior space.
Construction began in 1732 when the Bishop of Nice blessed the first stone and was completed in 1757. The building arose during a period when the harbor town needed to expand its religious spaces for its growing population.
The church houses a prized Grinda brothers organ from 1790, which draws attention through its baroque craftsmanship and artistic detail. Baroque paintings of Saint Michael adorn the walls and contribute to the spiritual character of the interior.
The church is open daily to visitors throughout the day, with the best natural light coming in the morning hours. Visitors who want to explore the interior comfortably should arrive outside of service times to view the details without interruption.
A life-size Christ figure carved from a single fig tree rests at the choir's back and represents a rare example of this particular craftsmanship. This wooden portrayal is a remarkable detail that many visitors overlook on their first visit.
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