Lazise Chapels: Revealing Local History and Religious Heritage

The rediscovery of a past that remains present within the folds of the territory over time can sometimes be «discovered», even by uncovering the chapels built by ancestors on the land. These chapels are indeed expressions of a religiosity rooted in a specific historical and cultural context. The territory of Lazise, which naturally includes the frazioni of Colà and Pacengo, is rich in these artifacts. Specifically, there are as many as 67 in the main town, 39 in the parish of San Giorgio in Colà, and 23 in the parish of San Giovanni Battista in Pacengo. This is a brief overview of the cataloging carried out by the Francesco Fontana association in 1994, when the first booklet of the association titled «I capitelli di Lazise, Colà e Pacengo» was published. However, it is difficult to determine the period in which most of the existing chapels in the area were built, as there is no comprehensive archival documentation. For the more recent works, oral testimonies from owners or those familiar with the events leading to their construction are necessary. «The oldest shrine», states Giulio Rama in the Francesco Fontana booklet, «is that of the Madonna in throne, located outside San Nicolò al Porto, dating back to the 13th century, while most of the others belong to the 20th century. In Lazise, there are as many as 55 out of 67; in Colà, 31 out of 39; and in Pacengo, 17 out of 23. Papal crosses and certain shrines with prominent public functions date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. I remember those in localities Vallesana and Posalta, or in the center of Colà». The dates carved into some chapels with significant public functions commemorate important moments in the civic and religious life of the entire community. «The shrine, the niche, the cross, the fresco are different signs through which», Rama emphasizes, «a clear religious message becomes present and familiar to everyday life. They are, in fact, forms of individual and collective piety: the chapel is a form of household sanctuary that allows the ongoing dialogue with the Transcendent». These are, therefore, expressions of true popular piety, spontaneous in nature, reflecting the purest feelings of the genuine and human «heart» of the people, even those of modest cultural and social backgrounds. In summary, they represent an important page for understanding local history, where the sacred and the profane blend into a unique «unity» to be handed down to posterity. (s.b.)