S.Bernardo Oratory
About
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Address | Frazione Cheggio |
| Phone | 0324.51817 (Parrocchia) |
Cheggio is a broad pasture on the pleasant slopes north of Antronapiana, at the entrance of the Loranco valley.
The toponim "Cheggio" means an open and sunny place. Because of its favourable position, several houses for the summer stay were built there.
The daily risk run by the dwellers to tumble down the steep slopes of the towering mountains when mowing and carrying the hay induced them to find a spiritual protection by the construction of a small church.
In the first decades of 1600 a modest chapel dedicated to S. Bernardofrom Mentone already stood there. He was one of the most renowned saints all over the Christian world and was revered as the protector of the mountain dwellers, nowadays also of the mountain climbers.
Only after the Pozzuoli landslide, of about 1650, it was decided to build up the Oratory. The forays of the people from the Valais, tied to the legend of "the old woman from Andolla" still stuck in their memory, motivated the necessity of increasing the protections.
As a consequence, in 1661 a new church bell was installed. In 1702-i703 the master carver Giulio Gualio made some decoration works. Cheggio was also the destination of pilgrimages during droughts and a stopping place for the pilgrims heading to S. Lorenzo of Bognanco and viceversa.
In the first 20 years of 1700 the inhabitants of Cheggio put at disposal a part of the pastures to fodder the horses used in the commercial trafic on the Antrona route.
The toponim "Cheggio" means an open and sunny place. Because of its favourable position, several houses for the summer stay were built there.
The daily risk run by the dwellers to tumble down the steep slopes of the towering mountains when mowing and carrying the hay induced them to find a spiritual protection by the construction of a small church.
In the first decades of 1600 a modest chapel dedicated to S. Bernardofrom Mentone already stood there. He was one of the most renowned saints all over the Christian world and was revered as the protector of the mountain dwellers, nowadays also of the mountain climbers.
Only after the Pozzuoli landslide, of about 1650, it was decided to build up the Oratory. The forays of the people from the Valais, tied to the legend of "the old woman from Andolla" still stuck in their memory, motivated the necessity of increasing the protections.
As a consequence, in 1661 a new church bell was installed. In 1702-i703 the master carver Giulio Gualio made some decoration works. Cheggio was also the destination of pilgrimages during droughts and a stopping place for the pilgrims heading to S. Lorenzo of Bognanco and viceversa.
In the first 20 years of 1700 the inhabitants of Cheggio put at disposal a part of the pastures to fodder the horses used in the commercial trafic on the Antrona route.
Tratto da:
"La Strada Antronesca - Scheda n°7" Anno 2001
C.A.I. Sezione di Villadossola /
Comunità Montana Valle Antrona