- Art & Culture
- Religious Tourism
Chapel Thirteen - The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Thirteenth Chapel of the Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the Pentecost, is a notable architectural example. Built after 1624, it stands out for its central position along the Via Sacro. Its octagonal layout and large portico invite pilgrims to explore the scene of the Pentecost depicted inside the chapel itself.
The terracotta statues by Francesco Silva, dated 1632, depict the descent of the Holy Spirit on apostles and the Virgin, surrounded by angels. The external architecture has stone flames at the corners, anticipating the subject of the Pentecost.
The frescos are the work of the brothers, Girolamo and Giovan Battista Grandi from Varese, together with Federico Bianchi. Although some parts have been damaged by successive interventions, the chapel is still a place of great artistic and spiritual interest, with polychrome marble flooring added in 1922 according to designs by Lodovico Pogliaghi, who also directed the restoration work.