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Momo (Novara, Italy): Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
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 The parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary has very ancient origins, being documented starting from the twelfth century. Originally it was the chapel of the castle of Momo, property of the Cattaneo, a castle of which today only remains are still present, and was therefore indicated as the Church of Santa Maria in Castrum Veteris. The current building appears to have been built around the years 1555-1560.
Having become a parish church, it was enlarged, at the expense of the community, starting from 1554. In 1620 the precious chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary was added, whose decoration was completed in 1625.
However, the current appearance of the church is due to the expansion that was carried out starting in 1684. The stucco decorations that run along the entire upper part of the nave probably date back to 1690. Around these years, the Oratory of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament was also added next to the presbytery (Fig. 4), also accessible from inside the presbytery.
In 1860 the chapel of Saints Zeno and Telcla was added (Fig. 5), whose relics were moved from under the altar to carved and gilded wooden showcases placed in the chapel itself.
In 1914 the neo-baroque pictorial decorations of the interiors were made.
The current bell tower was built in 1935, replacing the old one, based on one of the towers of the ancient castle.
The parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary has a basilica layout, with the central nave much wider and higher than the side ones. The façade (Fig. 1), with three orders, reflects this layout. The lower order includes the main entrance and the two side ones, all three framed by a portal which corresponds, at the base of the second order, to a lunette with a relief decoration inside. Vertically the façade is marked by large pilasters on two levels, at the apex of which there is a stone vase. The facade has a single window at the top center, which makes the interior rather dark.
The interior is, as mentioned, divided into three naves. The central nave has a barrel vault with lunettes, with a window in each lunette. Given their position, they do not guarantee good lighting.
Almost all the internal surfaces are covered with frescoes or decorations made in 1914, in neo-baroque style. In particular, the vault of the central nave (Fig. 2) is completely frescoed with scenes divided into panels defined by simulated frames and surrounded by rich plant-themed decorations, also painted in such a way as to suggest three-dimensionality. The most characteristic element of the church, however, is constituted by the monochrome stuccoes present under the attachment of the vault of the central nave and which run along the entire perimeter of the church. They represent tables and garlands held by winged cherubs. The figures of the putti are all different from each other and also the size and artistic quality vary. Stuccos also decorate the entrance arch of the presbytery. In this case the stuccos are even colored and represent two angels on the sides and the Assumption of Mary surrounded by cherubs at the top.
Also to be noted are the rich stucco cornices that surround the windows of the nave.
Overall, the stuccos blend perfectly with the pictorial decoration and their effect is to multiply the impact of the whole decorative apparatus, partly masking the geometric regularities of the architectural structure.
The church has four real chapels, a baptistery, an altar without a chapel, a fake painted chapel and the Oratory of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (which being accessible also from the presbytery is functionally equivalent to a chapel).
Wall of the first span of the right aisle: It houses the altar of St. John the Evangelist, or rather a large retable, because the actual altar is missing. The structure includes a mixtilinear baroque frame enriched by numerous cherub heads and placed between two angels resting on two cross-section columns. The angels support the lateral parts of a broken pediment on which two putti sit. Inside the frame there is an altarpiece depicting St. John the Evangelist.
Chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary: It is the chapel at the head of the right lateral nave and constitutes the most precious part of the church. It was built in 1620 by the brotherhood of the same name and its decoration, in fact still more Renaissance than Baroque in style, was completed in 1625. The paintings, placed inside rich stucco panels, depict the mysteries of the rosary, St. Dominic and Saint Catherine. In front of the altar there is a gilded and dressed statue of the Crowned Virgin with Child.
Oratory of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (Fig. 4): It is the room located to the right of the presbytery and is accessible both from it, through a wrought iron gate, and from the outside through a door with an elegant portal on the side right of the church. Its walls are marked by pilasters, while the vaulted ceiling with lunettes is decorated with frames and colored lines.
The altar is a simple cabinet, placed in front of a trompe l'oeil retable painted on the entrance wall.
Baptistery: It is immediately on the left as you entrance. It is a small semicircular room with a ceiling decorated in a neo-Renaissance style.
Altar of St. John Baptist: It is located on the wall of the first span of the left aisle. In place of a proper altar there is the baptismal font. The retable rests on two high pedestals and is composed of two twisted columns that support a baroque entablature on which two putti sit. In the center a stucco frame in which two putti are inserted and also seem to support the entablature. The altarpiece depicts the Baptism of Christ.
Wall of the second span of the left aisle: in reality it is an empty wall with only a door in the center, were it not for a niche containing a statue of St. Joseph. The wall, however, was painted in such a way as to simulate structures in relief, in particular a retable with the niche in the center.
Chapel of Saints Zeno and Tecla (Fig. 5): It was built in 1860 and is richly decorated with frescoes and gilded stuccos. The two saints in glory surrounded by angels and cherubs are depicted on the dome.
In front of the altar there is a richly decorated showcase in carved and gilded wood in which the relics of the two saints are kept.
It should be noted, however, that the altar and the retable currently present are still those of the time when the chapel was the Chapel of the Suffrage. The altarpiece depicts the Virgin between the Saints Agostinus and Bartholomew.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart: It is the chapel at the head of the left aisle. It is bordered by a polychrome marble balustrade and has frescoed interiors with geometric and plant-themed decorative elements. It houses an altar in polychrome marble.
The presbytery (Fig. 3) is rectangular, very deep and bordered by a polychrome marble balustrade. At the entrance there are two large statues, of David on the left and of Abraham on the right. The presence in the back wall of three large rectangular windows makes it the brightest part of the church. The walls are decorated with a fresco of the Nativity (left wall) and one of the Last Supper (right wall). The lower part of the walls is at the bottom are occupied by a wooden choir with very sober lines.
In the center there is the high altar, completely in polychrome marble and built in 1751.
The counter-façade hosts a organ built in 1900.
Categories: Places of historical value of artistic value
Piazza Don Giovanni Minzoni, 3, 28015 Momo NO |
Further pictures of Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the section Photography |