The old town

St Peter’s Church

Name: Mechanical Nativity – Chiesa San Giovanni
Start: 2024-12-10
End: 2024-12-10
Location: Chiesa di San Giovanni

Evidence of the age of the church, one time under the dependence of the Bishop of Turin, is visible on the outside by the two surviving apses structures and by some rare traces of paintings in the inside, connected to Romanesque tradition found in the “Novalesa” at the end of the 11th century. From the beginning of the 13th century, following its transfer of dependence to the Provost of Moncenisio, San Pietro took on more importance, thanks to its policy of buying local property and land.

Via S. Pietro, 19
10051 Avigliana TO

3333138398

ufficioiat@turismoavigliana.it

During the 14th and 15th century it was completely remodelled: in the north and west side new chapels were added, the elevation of the bell tower was increased and the southern part was enlarged. At the same time important decorative work was carried out on the internal walls with paintings of great interest for the Piedmont school.
They are showing the influence of the French, Lombard and Western Piedmont tradition, up to the late 16th century raffiguration of the Savoy castle fo Avigliana, kept on the back wall of the chapel situated in the west side. Owing to the process of urbanisation around Borgo Nuovo and the strengthening of the power of the Savoy from the middle of the 14th century, the church of San Giovanni, thanks to the support of the Provost of Moncenisio, was becoming the centre of spiritual devotion. San Pietro, due to its difficult geographical position, became a graveyard church.