Santa Maria delle Grazie, Renaissance church in Soncino, Italy.
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a Renaissance church in Soncino featuring a rectangular nave covered by a cross-vaulted ceiling, with a white marble entrance portal at its front. The bell tower was designed by Gerardo da Piacenza and stands as a distinctive element of the overall structure.
Cardinal Raimondo Perauti laid the foundation stone in 1501, with construction overseen by Father Antonio Maestri from Mantua. The church emerged during the early Renaissance period when such architectural forms were becoming established in northern Italy.
The interior walls display extensive fresco cycles created by Renaissance painters Francesco Scanzi and Giulio Campi, showing religious scenes and the four Evangelists. These paintings remain visible today and define the artistic character of the space.
The building is located along an ancient trade route that once connected Bergamo and Cremona, making it accessible from both cities. The main features are visible from the entrance, though visitors should allow time to observe the interior details at a comfortable pace.
After the Carmelites departed in 1772 following an edict, the building fell into disrepair until Paola Elisabetta Cerioli purchased it in 1864 and restored it. This recovery through individual initiative saved the structure from complete abandonment and decay.
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