Chiesa di San Rocco

San Rocco is the historic church of Liano, in Gargnano's upland territory. A timber-truss ceiling and three seventeenth-century altars give the small interior its distinctive character.

Why it matters

The church brings together signed works by Andrea Bertanza and Stefano Celesti, linking a hillside community with painters active in the wider Garda region. Its dedication recalls Saint Roch's traditional association with protection against plague.

What to notice

Bertanza's high-altarpiece depicts the Madonna and Child with Saints Roch, Charles Borromeo and Bernardine. Stefano Celesti signed the painting on the altar of Saint Joseph. The altar of the Holy Cross stands on the right. A plaque at the base of the bell tower bears the date 1640, generally associated with the tower's construction.

Context and history

The church and its furnishings developed during the seventeenth century. The Holy Cross altar dates from around 1673, adding a later stage to the interior. The paintings, altars and bell-tower inscription preserve several moments in the community's patronage rather than one securely dated founding campaign.