SMALL CHURCH OF SAN VITTORE

OR SANT'ANNA

The ancient little Church of San Vittore, or Sant'Anna, set in a position not far from the historic center, seems to welcome those transiting toward Brienno, coming from Como.

St. Anne's Church was formerly dedicated to St. Victor and has kept the double name.
According to some scholars, its origins predate the year 1000, making it considered among the oldest churches in Lombardy.

In fact, the bell tower dates back to the 11th century, while the present church was built in the 16th century, but its current appearance is related to renovations made in the 17th century.
The building has angular pilasters and mullioned and overlapping mullioned windows and is topped by a cusp in the shape of a of cone. The building is served by a small dock.

However, it is from the 1500s that there were major reconstruction works that gave it its present-day characteristics.
The Latin-cross plan interior has a single nave with a poplar floor; while the transept, opening on the left, shows a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary and, on the right, one dedicated to Sant'Antonio from Padova.

Also on the left, but immediately after the main entrance, we find the chapel dedicated to Sant'Anna, located where the apse was originally, in an earlier orientation of the altar.

Note, on the left wall, a large mural depicting the Massacre of the Innocents, dated to the 16th century; the apse and chancel are also richly frescoed with the moments of lives of various saints; noteworthy is the fine mural of San Vittore, richly harnessed as a soldier martyr, to whom the church has been dedicated since its origin.

The defiladed location from the village center conceals an ancient main role. In fact, the church was the original parish church, as well as the public cemetery of our village, but also of its neighbors. It would only be the total overtaking of the Christian faith that would manifest the need for a larger place of worship; from that time on, San Vittore, would cede its role as the primary church to that dedicated to Saints Nazaro and Celso.

HOW TO GET THERE
Outside the village, heading north is adjacent to a stretch of road where it is not easy to stop.
Coming from the south, however, one can only refer to a small rest area on the right, just before the staircase leading to the tree-lined churchyard.