Contrada San Giov...

The quarter takes its name from a church no longer in existence, which was situated at the crossroads between current Capitanio and Matteotti streets.

It was called St Zanino’s or St Johnnie al Rio’s in order to distinguish it from the one located in the territory of Lovere, on the top of Mount Cala, which was named after St Zanone or St John on Mount Cala.

The church is mentioned in the records of 1457 and had been under the giuspatronato of the Celeris, the most influential family in Lovere in the Middle Ages, since at least 1470.

In the 15th century Marini de Brigatis’, Celeri’s, della Bruna di Cremona’s, Cataneis de Suere’s, Vavassoribus de Tagliuno’s and de Vezia’s houses were located in this quarter.

SANCTUARY OF LOVERE SAINTS
THE CIVIC TOWER
ST. GEORGE’ S CHURCH
THE TOWER OF THE ALGHISIS
CAPUCHIN MONASTERY
ST. JOHN’S SANCTUARY ON MOUNT CALA

SANCTUARY OF LOVERE SAINTS
The sanctuary is dedicated to Christ, King of the Virgins, and it was consecrated by the bishop of Brescia in 1938. It was built in honour of the Loverese Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa, who were canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. The mosaics and symbols along the porticoed entrance stairs represent the Beatitudes and the Works of Mercy in harmony with the charitable aims of the Congregation “Sisters of Charity” (nowadays known as “Sisters of Holy Child Mary”), which was founded in Lovere by the two saints in 1832. The Congregation spread over many countries not only in Europe, but also in Asia, America and Africa.

Info: tel. +39 035.960147

THE CIVIC TOWER
It was rebuilt during the XIX century. On the tower there’s a clock and a fresco of a lion, symbol of the Venetian rule, bearing the date 1442.
The fresco below is a false, a part of the original fresco beeing now kept in the office of the town hall while the other part got destroyed.
The Civic Tower, which dates back to the XIV century, lies on the remains of the castle of the Celeri family.

ST. GEORGE’ S CHURCH
Lovere provostal church was built at the end of the 14th century over the previous medieval tower Soca. It houses a magnificent painting placed on the inner by the Flemish painter Jean de Herdt (1657). The altar-piece of the left altar painted by G. Paolo Cavagna (1556-1627) and the altar-piece of the high altar attributed to Jacopo Palma il Giovane (1544-1628) deserve special mention.

CAPUCHIN MONASTERY
St. Maurice’s Convent has been standing on the homonym hill since the 12th century. In 1448 Friars Observant built up their monastery here. They stayed till 1601, when Friars Reformed replaced them and greatly enlarged the building. In 1805 Napoleon ordered the dissolution of the monastery. It was only in 1875 that its reconstruction started and a Franciscan Capuchin community moved here again in 1879.
St. Peter’s Chapel, located in the churchyard of the convent, houses a remarkable 15th-century fresco representing Madonna enthroned with the Child.

ST. JOHN’S SANCTUARY ON MOUNT CALA
St. John’s Sanctuary on mount Cala was built at the end of the 14th century probably on the remains of a Medieval fortress belonging to the noble Celery family. The church underwent a radical transformation in 1606 and has remained the same since then.
Featuring a semi-circular window facing towards the west in the upper part of the façade, the front of the Sanctuary has a fully-enclosed porch except for the arched main door with an iron gate.
Inside the church, the nave has four side altars in marble dedicated to St. Rocco, St. Carlo, St. Fermo and the Virgin of Hope. The altarpiece behind the main altar is a valuable work of art by Antonio Cifrondi from Clusone (17th century).