Churches and Abbey of Arona
Itineraries From the Park all around
Minitour Arona (1/2) 
On top of Arona old town two churches stand side by side - St. Mary's, the Martyrs', and the remains of the Benedictine Abbey.
Founded at the end of 11th century, the latter soon became the most important monastery in the area, enriched by many land legacies from the towns in the Park: Mercurago, Dormello, Dormelletto, Comignago ed Oleggio Castello.
From 1573 to 1773 it was a Jesuit House, later on it was sold to private owners. The remaining Abbey buildings date from the 15th and the 16th centuries; they were modified over and over and today house the Municipality offices. The southern cloister is the best preserved part.
The church dedicated to martyrs Graziano, Felino, Fedele and Carpoforo houses, among other works of art, the altarpiecedepicting the Madonna on the throne, by Borgognone (1489). It replaced the 11th century Abbey church destryed at the end of the 15th century.
The structure of the abse with its two span dates of the late 15th century - early 16th century. The third span and the facade go back to the first half of the 18th century.
St. Mary's church is first mentioned in a 1172 document. In 1271 it depended on the Abbey. Nevertheless, the bell tower is in Romanic style, maybe from the late 11th century; it was overbuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries. The small Romanic church connected to it was repalced by the present-day one with three aisles, consacrated in 1488 and modified over and over again.
It was a wealth of cerimonial vestement and vassel, together with paintings such as Gaudenzio Ferrari's Polyptych, a Marian cycle in six parts (wich can be dated about 1619) by Morazzone, the Burial of Christ and the Madonna on the throne surronded by Saints, anonimous frescoes by late 15th century artists.
Under the four part portal of the rectory a collection of tombstones and ancient findings from the sourrondings area was installed in the late 19th 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: March 7th 2004