San Bartolomeo Church

Church of San Bartolomeo: A Masterpiece of Art and History

Located in the heart of Domaso in Piazza della Chiesa, the Church of San Bartolomeo (St. Bartholomew) has been the spiritual center of the community since at least 1247. Built upon the foundations of an even older Romanesque structure, the church was noted in the late 16th century by Bishop Feliciano Ninguarda during his influential pastoral visits to the region.

Changes in the Church over the centuries

The building we see today reflects the elegant 17th-century style, featuring a single nave flanked by ornate side chapels. A major reconstruction in 1724, along with centuries of architectural shifts, largely replaced its original Romanesque appearance with Baroque and Neoclassical elements. Despite these radical changes, several Renaissance treasures have survived. These include a solemn wooden crucifix behind the altar and a stunning gold-plated silver processional cross—a masterpiece by the famed Como goldsmith Pietro Lierni. Outside, look for the delicate bas-relief of the Pietà from the prestigious school of Rodari. The interior is a true gallery of 18th-century art. Visitors can admire the expansive frescoes of Pietro Ligari, which dramatically depict the martyrdom of San Bartolomeo and the life of St. Nicholas of Bari. Another highlight is the painting of the Madonna and Child with St. Peter, attributed to the master Giulio Cesare Procaccini. History buffs will also appreciate the chapel commissioned by Count Luigi Panizza, the Spanish Governor of Fort Fuentes, who was laid to rest here in 1639.

The frescoes by Ligari and the painting by Procaccini

Recent restoration work has brought even more history to light, uncovering a hidden 15th-century fresco of St. Peter the Martyr and the Trinity that had been covered by plaster for centuries. Before leaving, be sure to visit the 18th-century Chapel of the Good Death (Cappella della Buona Morte) outside, which is beautifully decorated with a painting of the Deposition.