Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, Baroque collegiate church in Morbegno, Italy.
The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is a baroque collegiate church in Morbegno that served as a major religious center for the community. Its main facade features detailed stone carvings, statues by Stefano Salterio, and classical architectural details, while the interior contains important religious relics and decorative elements.
Construction of the church began in 1680 when Archbishop Giovanni Battista Castelli initiated plans for a larger religious structure to serve the growing community. This project reflected a broader movement of religious expansion that transformed the region during this period.
The building houses a notable collection of artworks, including 36 oval paintings by Giuseppe Antonio Petrini and works by Giovanni Battista Pittoni that reveal the artistic prosperity of northern Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. These pieces reflect the religious devotion and patronage that shaped the community during that period.
The building is accessible during daytime hours, allowing visitors to view the interior furnishings and artwork at a comfortable pace. It is best explored on foot as part of a walk through the town of Morbegno.
During Holy Week, two historic confraternities construct a large wooden baroque chapel within the main hall as a temporary sanctuary for the deposed urn of Christ. This seasonal ritual demonstrates a tradition rooted in centuries of local religious practice.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
