2.3

the sacred, the parish churches and places of reflection

in the territories of Alto Mantua it is possible to identify a geography of the sacred, an expression of the devotion of the faithful.

In the territories of Alto Mantua it is possible to identify a geography of the sacred, an expression of the devotion of the faithful. The route proposed here encounters, alongside the monumental aspects, also figures who, more than others, have characterized this dimension of the discovery of the Ecomuseum. We will then leave from Monzambano, Volta Mantovana for Cavriana and then Castiglione delle Stiviere. In Lonato and Desenzano del Garda the routes linked to the Abbeys and Sanctuaries.

The buildings of worship are generally located near inhabited centers, often in a raised position and closely related to the territorial context: hills, river, canals, cultivated fields. In particular, three main types of places of worship are widespread: the parish church, the oratory and the capital. Among the most interesting settlements emerge precisely those that maintain a close relationship with the natural element, represented by

• church and waterway: the churches, mostly parish churches, are located near waterways and in particular the Mincio river;
• church and road junction: Oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie or Staffolo delle Corsare in Castellaro Lagusello;
• church and cultivated fields: these are mainly isolated oratories or attached to agricultural courtyards, among which the medieval Church of the Madonnina di Mezzacampagna in Cereta di Volta Mantovana stands out, located at the intersection of roads that divide the fields.

The relationship between sacred buildings and the river deserves particular attention, a characteristic and intentionally sought-after aspect of this territory. An example of this is the Parish Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Monzambano, built between 1743 and 1777, an interesting example of Baroque architecture. Its structure is imposing and developed above all in height, so much so that it is evident from the surrounding area. The façade faces west towards the Rocca, while the high bell tower and the apse face east, towards the canal and the Mincio, from which they are separated by a steep bank. The main altar is from the Brescian school and is one of the most interesting elements of the church, richly decorated with inlays reproducing floral and faunal elements of mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli and precious marbles. Christianity and humanism converge in the widespread religiosity of the territories of the moraine hills, which gave birth to universally known figures, such as San Luigi Gonzaga. The art and forms of devotion reverberate the spiritual identity of the territories, which the seasonal rituals linked to work in the fields have further influenced.