Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena

Santa Maria Maddalena stands in the Ospedaletto quarter of Ossuccio, near the Lake Como shore and Isola Comacina. Its single-nave Romanesque church and elaborately decorated bell tower belong to a former complex associated with the accommodation of pilgrims.

Why it matters

The church links religious architecture with the history of hospitality along the Via Regina. Its compact body and distinctive tower also preserve different phases of medieval construction and later restoration.

What to notice

The nave ends in a semicircular apse. Narrow windows and blind arches articulate the masonry, while the facade includes two round openings and a central cross-shaped aperture. The bell tower combines an earlier stone structure with a later, ornate belfry incorporating terracotta. A marble relief set into the entrance portico depicts animals pursuing a smaller creature, a subject found in other Romanesque sculpture around Como.

Context and history

The church's origins are placed in the eleventh or twelfth century; a document of 1169 records it beside a hospice. The Giovio family acquired patronage rights over the complex in 1496, and Gabriele Giovio promoted restoration in 1506. A further restoration in 1939 helped produce the church's present appearance, including the recovery of its earlier architectural character.