St. Martin, Gattico
Itineraries From the Park all around
Minitour Gattico (2/3) 
The choice of Count Da Castello from Gattico to build (1125 - 1150) St. Martin's Church, the main parish, far from the castle, is due to the sacred aura of the place. According to tradition there stood a temple to Mercurius, whose bronze statue was stolen. There is no hard evidence of this, while an urban settlement around the church is confirmed by several Roman-age findings. It was probably a villa rustica with annexed oratory of rich baptised Roman landowner. After the villa decayed, only the church probably survived.
The present day building, basilica-like, with three aisles, maintained its Roman lines because it was soon abandoned during the early 15thcentury, when the Da Castello were vanquished.
The best decoratione floor tiles, arches, carve stones were then pillaged from the church. The stones from the northern side, hidden from view, were still being secretely stolen in the 17thcentury, as can be noticed.
The original architecture can be better understood from the project for the rebuilding of the facade and the apses and through the plan. The building was covered with stone tiles supported by wooden beams. Remarkable are the stone-carved arches, the architrave and the lunette at the entrance, the apses arches with stone ashlars and re-used Roman brickwork.
One of the massive pillars in the right side aisle was restored in 1981, the apses were strengthened a few years ago. The stone basin in front of the church - perhaps used for baptism - was positioned behind the northern apse until a few years ago.
In 1132 the plebem de Gatico cum capellis suis, that is to say about ten small churches from the surronding villages, is first mentioned. After the disappearance of some of these (Caronno, Borgo Agnello, and so on), only their Roman churches survive. Two at least are worth a visit: St. Iginus, in the farm of the same name towards Arona, and St. Andrew from Caronno along the wood track, farther to the west.
The latter is really remarkable thanks to the apse decoration with close arches and because no less then three building periods are indicated on its walls: 10th, 11th and 12th century.
Info
Other informations about itineraries From the Park all around are available on this web site, and nearby the described monument, in English.
Information provided by GASMA (Arona's Archeological, Historical, Mineralogical Group)
For guided tours please contact Associazione ProntoGuide
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Last updated: July 29th 2004