Cappella di Santa Maria di Missione, Medieval chapel in Villafranca Piemonte, Italy.
The Cappella di Santa Maria di Missione is a medieval chapel in Villafranca Piemonte with a single nave divided into two bays. The second bay functions as a presbytery and is decorated with detailed frescoes on its walls.
The chapel was first mentioned in a document from 1037 when Bishop Landolfo of Turin donated it to the Abbey of Cavour. It was later returned to the local community.
The walls display religious and allegorical frescoes painted by artist Aimone Duce in the 1430s, showing virtues and vices through visual storytelling. These images still speak to visitors walking through the small space today.
The chapel is accessible to visitors through an automated system that manages entry. It is wise to check conditions in advance, as access depends on this system's operation.
During restoration work in the second bay, workers discovered remains of a semicircular apse that may belong to the original 1037 structure. This finding suggests the chapel could be older than its written documentation indicates.
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