Santa Maria di Vezzolano

The complex rises in the green of a beautiful valley, in one of the most picturesque and unspoilt corners of Monferrato, among vineyards, fields and wood areas. In Vezzolano, history and legend intertwine and the hypotheses of its construction are multiple and imbued with mysterious aspects. For sure, the most fascinating legend, and which contributes to increasing the halo of mystery around this Romanesque jewel, is the one that attributes its birth to the imperial will of Charles the Great. The plan of the church can be dated back to the late 12th century, but the shapes in which it appears to us denote its belonging to the 13th century. The church has a basilica plan, oriented, with one nave and two aisles and two semi-circular apses; the third nave (right side) is partly englobed in the quadrangular cloister leaning against the south side of the church. The importance the worship of the Madonna had in Vezzolano is evidenced by the iconographies of the Virgin which we find in the complex; the most surprising element of the interior is the rood screen (or jubè) which crosses the church at the height of the first span, and is undoubtedly the most important work preserved in Vezzolano; it is also one of the few still existing in Italy. From the church, through a very small door, you access the cloister overlooked by several rooms.