For centuries, the church was the heart of Marian devotion for the people of Lanzo, and between the 16th and 17th centuries it played a central role in both religious and civic life. It still preserves precious reminders of its former splendour.
Site overview
Always dedicated to the Madonna, albeit under different names, the church is situated halfway along the old Contrada del Borgo and has been the centre of Marian devotion for the people of Lanzo since medieval times. The date of construction of the original chapel is unknown.
From 1545 to 1591, it served as the parish church after the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli was demolished, ordered by the then Lord of Lanzo, Gian Giacomo de Medici, for military reasons. During this period, it also fulfilled a civic function, as the heads of household of Lanzo and the surrounding area were summoned to the church every six months to elect the Credenza, the community’s governing body.
The large internal gallery housing the choir was accessible not only by the external staircase but also directly from the adjoining Palazzo dei Signori d’Este via a raised, covered passageway, which still exists today.
On 10 July 1575, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Name of Jesus was established in this church and has administered the building ever since. Inside, relics, sacred furnishings, and a processional float are preserved as testimony to its former splendour.
How to visit the site
Situated halfway along the old Contrada del Borgo, at Via San Giovanni Bosco, 29.
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