Riva San Vitale
Intro
Riva San Vitale, a small, tranquil village directly on Lake Lugano, lies between the two imposing mountains "Monte San Giorgio" and "Monte Generoso". The Baptistery of San Giovanni, the oldest masonry Christian building in Switzerland, is hidden away in the old village centre and is open to visitors.
Description
Exploration of the lovely little village on the lake commences at the most important monument of history and religion; the baptistery. Dedicated to Saint John, this stands inside the inner courtyard of the parish church in the middle of Riva San Vitale. It is the oldest Christian brick building still preserved in Switzerland. Going back to the 5th century, its octagonal ground plan appears to stem from a design of Roman times. Inside is a rare octagonal baptism font, of the kind in which one fully immerses - and the niches and pillars bear precious Romanesque frescoes from the 12th century.
Following this, it’s worth making your way up to the Santa Croce; a remarkable renaissance construction, constructed in the 16th century by word of the noble Della Croce family from Milan. This church has a central ground plan, octagonal dome and paintings by the artist Camillo Procaccini (1560-1629). In the streets and alleys of the village, a number of additional elements and more modern architecture also await being discovered - including the Casa Bianchi, designed in 1973 by architect Mario Botta, and the "Casa con studio", designed in 1974 by architect Giancarlo Durisch.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
Organizzazione Turistica Regionale Mendrisiotto e Basso Ceresio
Via Angelo Maspoli 15
6850
Mendrisio
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)91 641 30 50
Fax +41 (0)91 641 30 59
info@mendrisiottoturismo.ch
mendrisiottoturismo.ch
