Along the Occitan trail, the Sanctuary of San Costanzo al Monte, a masterpiece hidden in the woods of Villar, is well worth a visit.

There are several ways to reach this national monument; the most convenient is to start from Dronero, following the paved road up to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Delibera, from where you can reach San Costanzo al Monte via a dirt track.

The church of San Costanzo al Monte is one of the most interesting, and yet least known, Romanesque monuments in the region

Its foundation is attributed to Aribert II (701-712), but it was destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century. It was subsequently rebuilt in several stages between the 11th and 13th centuries, with later additions such as the 18th-century facade.

The Sanctuary of San Costanzo al Monte consists of two churches, one above the other, with two staircases leading to the different areas.

The upper church has three naves ending in three apses. The columns are decorated with geometric patterns. On the southern wall of the church, at the level of the first bay, there are traces of 11th-century frescoes depicting the stories of Adam and Eve

The octagonal lantern on squinches and the finely carved capitals with animal, plant, and monstrous themes are in the Lombard style.

In the lower church, sturdy stone pillars support low groin vaults. The eastern section is the oldest part and is thought to be the crypt of the ancient church destroyed by the Saracens.
The most recent restoration work, which lasted three years, was completed in 2019. During this project, a cycle of frescoes was discovered on the perimeter walls of the church, depicting episodes from the life of Jesus according to the apocryphal Gospels, arranged within ribbon frames and stylistically attributable to the Romanesque phase of the building between the 11th and 12th centuries.

A point of interest: look in the right aisle for a stone parallelepiped with four hemispherical cavities of different volumes: these were the measures for the tithes on agricultural products that farmers had to pay to the abbot every year.

• Via Fonza (Villar San Costanzo)

• How to visit the site

  Open to visitors by contacting the Volontari per l’Arte of Villar San Costanzo at 335.7780966 or the Parish of Villar San Costanzo at 0171 902432. Schedule of upcoming opening dates for 2026, with visits from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM:

  • Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday) Sunday, April 12 Sunday, May 10 Sunday, June 14 Sunday, June 21 (FREE SHUTTLE FROM PIAZZA GIOLITTI (https://maps.app.goo.gl/fNZyVmS1j4erseYb6) TO THE SANCTUARY) Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 Sunday, September 13 Sunday, October 11
  For information: 335.7780966 - 346.6298855 email "demino.m53@gmail.com"