The Church of Voiandes is probably the simplest in the whole Tremosine sul Garda territory, a sober and mystical building.
A Church created by the faithful
More than likely, it wasn’t a notable person that took care of the construction of this religious building - instead, the Voiandes church was built thanks to the faith and devotion of local inhabitants. Work began in the 16th century - the church presents some typical features from that time, like the main gabled façade and the small crescent-shaped rose windows.
An inscription on the presbytery reads: "aere proprio aedificavit 1697". Therefore, it seems that the church was completed in this year, by unknown builders.
There are official news of the building in the mid-18th century,when the church’s name appears in official documents.
The building is dedicated to Vincenzo Ferreri, a Spanish friar of the Dominican Order, and Antonio da Padova, the patron saint of the town of the same name, where the famous splendid basilica dedicated to him is located.
A church on a slope
The building has a rectangular plan, simple and essential, but there’s a peculiarity - it was built on a steep slope, and for this reason it has a reinforced wall to support the ground.
Inside, you can see a wooden statue dedicated to Sant’Antonio da Padova, dating back to the twentieth century, when the church was modernized and restored. The most valuable work of art is the altarpiece from 1750, depicting the Madonna together with the two saints Vincenzo and Antonio.
Curious facts
The cult of the two saints to which the church of Voiandes is dedicated is common throughout Italy, and both are represented by rich symbolism.
San Vincenzo is the protector of the sick and the fields - he is often represented with a flame on his forehead, with a trumpet in his hand or with a dove, all symbols of his life as a fervent preacher.
Sant’Antonio da Padova, on the other hand, is the best known of the two. He was made a saint only a year after his death, and his symbol is a white lily, a symbol of purity and devotion.
