Church of San Pellegrino

The church of San Pellegrino, a medieval building from the 16th/17th centuries. Century, is located on the old road to Chironico.
It is composed of three structures: a front and a rear, higher nave and the polygonal apse, which is also raised. A polygonal chapel with a bell tower completes the small church.
Traces of frescoes can be seen on the façade with a gable roof, depicting a large image of the Virgin Mary and the coat of arms of Leventina and the canton of Uri.
The nave was decorated in 1589 by Giovan Battista Tarilli and Domenico Caresano, two painters from Cureglia. On the back wall there is a large fresco of the Last Judgment, between the windows there are figures of the apostles.
In the lower part of the nave, the depictions of virtues and vices can be seen between empty niches, and the doctors of the church and figures of saints can be seen on the arch. Fragments of frescoes (Crucifixion) in the rear nave.
The raised choir is decorated with stucco work and frescoes (17th/18th centuries). The main altar, made of stucco marble, is the work of Pancaldi (1766). In a niche there is a portrait of Saint Pellegrino (17th century).

Many churches in Ticino have seen better days than the Chiesa San Pellegrino. It stands secluded in a chestnut forest on the former Gotthard mule track (today the “Strada bassa” hiking trail) near the Altirolo part of the village. On the east side of the valley, the coat of arms of the Leventina is depicted on the right, on the left the coat of arms of the canton Uri, which ruled the Leventina from 1480 to 1798. Both coats of arms are exaggerated by a representation of Mary. The work dates from around 1589. Unfortunately the church was closed.