- Art & Culture
- Religious Tourism
Chapel Four – Presentation at the Temple
The Fourth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Presentation at the Temple, is the work of Giuseppe Bernascone. Its panoramic position on the bend leading up to the Fifth Chapel, offers a view out on the Olona Valley, blending perfectly into the surrounding atmosphere.
The dome features an elegant lantern at the top. Although lanterns were included in the designs for other chapels, this is the only dome to have one. The portico consists of four spaces, topped by narrow pyramids, and it is decorated with the coat-of-arms of the Omodei family, who financed the chapel.
Inside are terracotta sculptures by Francesco Silva, dated 1617, which can be seen at windows offering different viewing points. The main window focuses attention on the Presentation at the Temple, while a side window shows a thief and a dog, adding a touch of the everyday.
The frescos, completed by 1662 by Giovanni Ghisolfi, recreate the interior of a temple, with figures that seem to interact with the sculptures. The dome contains a charming representation of God surrounded by angels.