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The Three Kings Chapel | The authors |
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The Three Kings Chapel | The authors |
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Three Kings Chapel is placed at the top of the low hill called Pautro Mount.
It was built around 1220 and according to the legend it was S.Francesco d’Assisi who
suggested the construction, to gain protection from the frequent, hail-storms that
destroyed the countryside. Once, every 6th of January, the Ivrea authorities went on pilgrimage to the tiny church to offer three church candles. For a few years now, the ceremony has been re-established during the Carnival celebrations, and sees the participation of the town Bishop and the historical group that represents the medieval "Podestà" and the Credenza Council. The small construction in unrefined Romanesque style has a single nave with barrel vault, thick walls, only a few |
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and the floor made of stone and pot. The only elements to decorate the building were some
frescos, which are almost completely lost today. In the chapel the Madonna was worshipped,
represented on a small icon while showing Jesus to the Three Kings. A star was
hanging over the altar as a reminder of the comet that guided the Magi. The people decided to call the church “Madonna della Stella”, and the hill “Monte Stella”. The church was changed in 1754 and a sacristy was added, after that it was abandoned and ruined. In 1980 they started restoring and made a path from the large square below to the church. |
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