POI

Menu :
Histoire
Personnages
Nature
Itinéraires par région
My Account
The project GRITACCESS
FAQ
API

The "Maestà" of Arcola

A few kilometres from La Spezia, a beautiful village stands on a hill, guarding the lower Val di Magra. Even the most distracted travellers will be able to see it thanks to its imposing pentagonal tower. This is Arcola. It is not only because of its tower, or the beauty of its narrow, shady alleyways, its views over the valley, or the sense of tranquillity and relaxation it gives to travellers that we have included Arcola in this ethnographic itinerary of the province of La Spezia, but for a much more precise and no less important reason. Arcola is distinguished, in fact, along with a few other places in Lunigiana, by the presence of the beautiful "Maestà". This is the name given to bas-relief sculptures, often commissioned by popular devotion but not for this reason not of high quality, which were generally placed to protect roads, gates and streets. A subject always present, and which gives the sculpture its name, is the Virgin. She may be accompanied by other saints or by Jesus, depending on the scene to be represented. The entire village of Arcola is scattered with these authentic delights of popular faith, as well as those found in the surrounding countryside. For example, the "Maestà" of the ancient "Hospitale della Casalina", which, with an unusual theme, depicts a pietà, with Mary holding the now lifeless body of the Saviour. Just outside Arcola we find the aedicule of the Immaculate Conception, decorated with fine putti, located at a processional road junction of great importance for the local faith, which ran through Arcola to the island of Tino. The splendid polychrome "Maestà", more typically depicting Mary with the child in her arms, belongs to the same route. In the heart of the village there is a remarkable "Maestà" depicting Our Lady of the Rosary with St Francis and St Anthony of Padua, a saint who is very present in local "Maestà", and we conclude this review with the Majesty depicting Our Lady with Child and St Anthony. Most of these small treasures were made between the 14th and 17th centuries, and illustrate better than many words how much sincere faith and artistic skill our ancestors possessed.
  • Cultural site
  • Religious site
    • La Spezia
    GRITACCESS:
    Contact :
          • Piazza Parrocchiale, 2-6, 19021 Arcola SP

          Learn more about the project :
          Skip to content