Chiesa di San Rocco (Motta)

The Church of San Rocco stands in Motta, a Walser hamlet on the sunny slope above Macugnaga. Dedicated to the saint associated with protection from plague, the seventeenth-century oratory is part of the hamlet's religious history.

Why it matters

Macugnaga comprises several Walser hamlets, each with its own religious traditions. San Rocco belongs to Motta and reflects the devotion to Saint Roch that spread through Alpine communities during periods of epidemic disease. An oratory in the area is documented from 1689, initially under the dedication of the Beata Vergine di Loreto and later associated with San Rocco.

What to notice

The church is a modest stone building with a gabled façade and a small bell element. Its plain form reflects its role as a hamlet oratory. Motta's surrounding buildings preserve elements of Walser construction, including stone lower levels and timber upper storeys.

Context and history

Walser settlement in the upper Anzasca Valley began in the second half of the thirteenth century, when German-speaking families crossed from the Saas Valley and established communities on the sunny side of the valley. Motta was among these settlements. The oratory documented in 1689 was first dedicated to the Beata Vergine di Loreto and later to Saint Roch. The church has undergone repairs and restoration.