Chiesa degli Alpini

The Church of the Alpini in Croce, a hamlet of Menaggio, is a twentieth-century church dedicated to Saint Maurice. Built in 1975, it includes frescoes by B. Azimonti and wrought-iron work by B. Pollini.

Why it matters

The church commemorates the Alpini, Italy’s mountain troops, and connects a modern building with the religious and civic memory of the Alpine communities. Its dedication to Saint Maurice, patron of the corps, and its decoration by named local artists give the church a distinct identity within Menaggio’s historic hamlets.

What to notice

The interior frescoes are by B. Azimonti, while the wrought-iron work is attributed to B. Pollini. The modest scale and mid-twentieth-century decorative scheme distinguish the church from the older medieval and Baroque religious buildings in the Menaggio area.

Context and history

The Church of the Alpini was built in 1975 in Croce and designed by architect L. M. Belloni. It is dedicated to Saint Maurice, proclaimed patron of the Alpini in 1941. The corps was established in 1872. Painter B. Azimonti and ironworker B. Pollini contributed to the building’s decorative programme.