Can we take stock of the state of the restoration work on the sacred complex that was created around the church of the Madonna d'Ongero in Carona?
«The list of works already completed is undoubtedly very long. In the first phase of the restoration, the wooden stairs to access the bell tower were replaced with solid metal stairs, the same fate befell the wooden floors of the bell tower. The iron structure (so-called castle) of the bells was also rebuilt by a company specialized in the Ambrosian system and the entire bell tower was made structurally safe. Among the works that have already been carried out we can include the lantern located at the top of the lantern (inside you can perceive the stucco vault, now also illuminated with LED strips, according to the correct technical standards). The entire built volume was deeply damaged by time and a total renovation was carried out (both for the wall vault and for the copper cladding). That precarious situation was also the main cause of water leaking onto the stucco."
Specifically, which parts of the complex and which architectural elements were affected during the second phase of the restoration work?
«The state of conservation of the stucco was extremely worrying. The marked presence of salts was evident, which disintegrated the very structure of the stucco, degrading it to its depths. The restoration consisted of the re-adhesion of the stucco, the cleaning of the surfaces, the elimination of salts, the consolidation of the stucco, their repainting, the repair of the gaps and the pictorial integration. Even the lantern and the spire of the bell tower now require targeted and decisive intervention to maintain the roofs of the naves. Furthermore, inspections and measurements showed a clear pattern of cracks on the walls of the bell tower and the sacristy attributable to static phenomena such as inadequately counteracted thrusts coming from the roofing and pre-existing arches. The intervention will require the insertion of tie rods in the masonry thickness of the last two levels of the bell tower and in the perimeter wall of the sacristy".
The building is a small masterpiece of Baroque art. What valuable artistic works are kept there?
«Remarkable is the stucco decoration, largely carried out by Alessandro Casella (circa 1620 – 1661): God the Father above the main altar, Saint Gregory the Great, the figures of Faith and Charity, Saint Jerome, Saint Mary Magdalene and numerous Angels , as well as SS Andrew and George, Moses and David. The list is long and the best thing is to go there in person to see them live. Now that the stuccos are visible up close thanks to the scaffolding, one can only marvel at the grace, attention to detail and harmony of these works. As for the frescoes, the most famous are by Giuseppe Antonio Petrini (1677-1758). At the Madonna d'Ongero you can admire two scenes: the Dispute of Jesus with the Doctors of the Law and the Presentation in the Temple. Then you can also discover the scene of the fight between Cain and Abel, hidden in monochrome, at the bottom right of the work."
Why is this "little church on the mountain", as Hermann Hesse defined it in one of his writings, so dear to the inhabitants of Carona and the surrounding areas but also to visitors and pilgrims from all over Ticino and beyond?
«The origins of popular devotion date back to a miracle that occurred during the 600th century when a deaf and dumb girl was healed in a small chapel about 300 meters from the church of the Madonna d'Ongero. There is also another tradition that dates back to the years of a plague, when the inhabitants of Gentilino invoked the Madonna for her protection and went there in procession to thank for the grace received. This pilgrimage still exists today. The Sanctuary is located in the middle of a forest, and today many people go there simply to immerse themselves in nature. The beech and chestnut forest that leads to the Madonna is in fact a place of peace and a place in Ticino that exudes a particular energy."
What was the contribution of the local Parish in promoting this restoration and in raising the necessary financial contribution?
«The Parish owns the Sanctuary and therefore guarantor, also for future generations, of the protection of the Sanctuary. The first stage of the restoration began with the urgency of intervening to counteract the fall of some stuccos. The Parish Council at the time started the works and worked hard to make it safe and stop the problem of rising damp. Then the pandemic blocked everything, as did the lack of funds. Carona, a small parish of 600 faithful, has 4 churches to maintain. The long-standing desire of the parish priest to restore splendor to the Sanctuary, the meeting with a generous donor ready to support part of the financing, the frustration of having before his eyes a Sanctuary closed for safety, the appointment of a new parish council were the opportunity to restart with the restoration, starting with the search for funds. The generosity of the inhabitants of Carona and of many inhabitants of Arbostora, of Collina d'Ora, the contribution of the city of Lugano, of numerous foundations, the subsidies of the Canton and the Confederation, all this made it possible to carry out the restoration".
How will you celebrate the completion of the restorations?
«The end of the construction site should coincide with the feast of the Madonna, in September 2024. Now we are still far from the end. Plus, the terrible hailstorm on the 30th May it damaged the roof and we would have to put back the scaffolding that had already been removed. We take one step at a time and the finish line fills our hearts with joy. We already have many ideas of how we want to inaugurate it. And that day we will certainly be able to say that the our feelings and that of enormous gratitude for all the people involved in this restoration, our generous donors, the entire team of workers under the careful guidance of the architect Luca Giordano and of its partners from the Tecnoclima architecture studio of Lugano».
