The church of the Madonna della Neve, or Santa Maria della Neve, is a religious building in Vigevano, in the diocese of Vigevano.
What to see
It was built in 1600 where the small church of Santa Maria dei Pesci, later destroyed, had stood; the ancient icon was taken from it and carried to the new church. In 1607 the confraternity of Death settled there. The church was restored in 1728 and in 1842, with the addition of new paintings. It has four altars, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Caravaggio, to Saint Philip Benizi, to Saint Anthony and to Saints Crispin and Crispinian.
The interior is Baroque, with a vault fresco that holds architectural backdrops of great scenic effect. On the high altar is the Virgin between Saints Roch and Sebastian, of the Lombard school: the Madonna wears a blue cloak with small flowers closed by a clasp and sits on a niche-shaped wooden throne, on a black-and-white checkered floor; to her right Saint Roch, in a yellow-and-red doublet and the pilgrim's short cape, to her left the fine body of Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows. The portal is enriched by a Baroque frieze in red Verona marble with black inlays.
Visiting
The church is in Vigevano. The sources consulted give no opening hours or visiting arrangements: check them.
Our editors' tip
In the altarpiece on the high altar the Child, in the Madonna's arms, plays with a cat; beside the church stands a Baroque bell tower that contrasts with the linearity of the building.
