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Chiesa di San LorenzoThe Church of St. Lawrence (Gozzano)
As the Church of Santa Maria di Luzzara, the Church of St. Lawrence lays outside Gozzano built-up area, but facing South, not far from the cemetery. It is the old parish priest church of the suburb, which was founded - according with the tradition - by St. Julian himself, who arrived with St. Julius from Egina to proclaim the Gospel in Cusio area and to erect new churches, whose remains lied there until the transfer in the more recent St. Julian Basilica, which has been built just in the centre of the village. The transfer took place at the beginning of the Xth century.
Some recent archeological discoveries seem to confirm the existence on the spot of a former early Christian church. The current building, and the consecration of the church to St. Lawrence, date back to the XIIth century, even though during the XVII and XVIIIth centuries the structure was rearranged, and a small bell tower was added, as well as the sacristy and the portiro. These additions haven`t spoiled the charm of this place, plunged in the woods and in the green.
The outside is plain, made of wood, with a saddle roof façade. The interior is composed of a sole oriented nave and four huge arcades, enclosed at the end by an apse, the oldest part of the Church, and outwardly adorned with some pensile small arches divided in groups of three by some fine pilasters.
Inside, some XVth century frescos are conserved. Behind the baroque altar, a grave indicates the very spot where in the past – according with the tradition – the remains of St. Julian lied.
Zone
Il Cusio
Locality
Gozzano