Open Doors: Medieval Churches and Oratories between Sesia and Agogna

An open door to the medieval Novara region

In Sillavengo, a small town in the rice-growing plains of the Province of Novara, Piedmont, the Open Doors: Medieval Churches and Oratories between Sesia and Agogna initiative invites you to cross the threshold of one of the area's best-kept secrets: the Oratorio di Santa Maria Nova on Via Legnano. For one day, this building, usually closed to the public, opens its doors to welcome you with insights into its pictorial cycles, showcasing a heritage that inextricably links sacred art with the history of rural communities between the Sesia and Agogna rivers.

The Oratorio di Santa Maria Nova

Likely built at the end of the 14th century at the behest of the noble De' Capitaneis family—whose coats of arms still appear on the presbytery front and the sides of the apse—the oratory is a refined example of late Romanesque architecture. The structure, a single nave with a trussed roof, is largely built with river stones from the Sesia, laid in opus spicatum and alternated with brick courses, a construction technique typical of the area.

The greatest interest, however, lies within: a cycle of frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. In the apse, a sequence of Apostles surrounds the Madonna, her mantle raised to protect the faithful, while Christ Pantocrator stands at the center with the symbols of the Evangelists. The most significant cycle is painted on the inner pediment above the apse, where the Passion of Christ unfolds in several panels. On the exterior facade, traces of a grand Last Judgment survive, though now almost entirely lost. Over the centuries, the oratory has served as a lazaretto and a shelter for troops during the two World Wars, before undergoing major restoration campaigns.

An itinerary across seven municipalities

Sillavengo is not alone: the event connects seven municipalities in the Novara area—Briona, Carpignano Sesia, Casalvolone, Fara Novarese, Momo, Sillavengo, and Vicolungo—each with its own medieval church or oratory open at the same time. You can build your own route through Romanesque parish churches and frescoed oratories, discovering how faith and defensive systems shaped the landscape of the plains between the Sesia and Agogna.

Patronage and organization

The initiative is sponsored by the Province of Novara and supported by the ATL Terre dell'Alto Piemonte, in collaboration with the municipalities, parishes, Pro Loco associations, and numerous local volunteers. In Sillavengo, the local Pro Loco manages the reception and the social gathering that concludes the day.