RECTORY OF ST. VITTORE

Located on the Bedero hill, in the heart of Valtravaglia, the Collegiate Church of San Vittore is one of the most significant religious and artistic testimonies in the area

Located on the Bedero hill, in the heart of Valtravaglia, the Collegiate Church of San Vittore is one of the most significant religious and artistic sites in the area. Built in the 12th century on an earlier early Christian building and founded by San Galdino in 1165, it was for centuries the spiritual center of the Pieve di Bedero.

The current structure, in Romanesque style, has a basilica plan with three naves with terminal apses and a salient stone façade, enriched by a rose window and lancet windows.

Inside, the atmosphere is simple and austere, with exposed stone walls and decorations of great historical value: 16th-century frescoes such as the Crucifixion in the central apse, the martyrdom of Saint Victor in the sacristy, Romanesque sculptures in the pulpit, and an early Christian tombstone. Of particular note is the 17th-century organ, still the focus of refined classical music concerts today.

The true treasure of the Collegiate Church consists of four ancient musical codices dating back to the 12th, 14th, and 15th centuries, fundamental for the study of Ambrosian chant and musical paleography.

The Collegiate Church is also accessible via a charming staircase from the town center. Since 2010, it has been "adopted" by the Città di Luino-Carlo Volontè High School as a site to be promoted, becoming an active participant in school projects related to tourism and the local area.