Frescos and Religious Art

In the Alta Valle Susa

The Susa Valley is particularly rich in frescoed cycles. The majority of those paintings, many of which have been recently restored, date back to the 15th and 16th Century. However, some of the paintings, such as those of the Novalesa Abbey, date as early as the end of the 11th century. Many frescos can often be found on the outer walls of countryside chapels, other inside around the altar depicting scenes of Christ’s life along with the patron saints depicting the history of the Christian faith in this area. Many monastic institutions profoundly shaped the culture and the life of the valley.

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Sauze d’Oulx, Jouvenceaux.

Jouvenceaux is home to the stunning Chapel of St Anthony the Abbot (Cappella di Sant’Antonio abate).

The chapel, located in the ancient heart of Jouvenceaux, has a wonderful fresco cycle decorating the exterior of the chapel, while inside there are more frescos dated between 1480 and 1490.

On the facade there’s a representation of the Last Judgment. The side of the chapel that faces the square has representations of St. Michael the Archangel, the Annunciation, Saint Anthony Abbot (with sick penitents) and St. Christopher. On this same wall, lower down, there’s allegories of the “Good and the Bad Confession” and the “Good and Bad Communion”. It’s believed the frescos were created by Pinerolo Bartholomew and Sebastiano Serra who were active in numerous places of the Susa Valley.