Churches | schwingeninswitzerland

Every time I say “flying buttress” he laughs. For some people, Notre Dame is a religious experience. Our promenade around the exterior was more like a giggly experience. Each time someone said “buttress,” it was pronounced “BUTT-ress.” You can’t take us anywhere. Nevertheless, I still think flying buttresses are cool and good for more than just a laugh.

Gothic churches are tall, spacious and filled with light. Why? The magic of technology. Buttresses support the walls outward force. Pointed arches (instead of the round Romanesque arches) allowed the enormous weight of stone roofs transferring it out and not just to the walls. Essentially, the buttresses support the weight of the roof. This made building thinner walls with windows possible.

You can see the support inside with a network of columns that become pointed. They intersect at the top of the roof.

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Nowhere can you see this more than in Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle. Almost all the walls are windows and it is filled with light.

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Bellinzona is probably Switzerland’s most Italianate town. Therefore, it is not surprising that it has tons of churches. Being the idiot that I am, I was still surprised that such a small town had so many. Being a trading center, Bellinzona drew people from all over, including religious folk. There are many churches and convents in the area. The local tourist office has even developed a walking tour that covers some of the highlights.

Piazza Collegiata (also known as Piazza Grande) is one of Bellinzona’s center squares, When you step into Piazza Collegiata, your eyes are drawn to its elegant, imposing Renaissance church. Its rich baroque interior is incredibly ornate. Perhaps because it isn’t very large, the Collegiata dei Ss. Pietro e Stefano somehow manages to be intimate, even cheerful.

Dating from 1424, was largely rebuilt by Tommaso Rodari from Maroggia. He was the master builder of Italy’s Como Cathedral. Just around the corner, toward the path to Montebello, you pass ancient church buildings.

The 14th century oratory of San Rocco is known for its frescos of St. Christopher and the Virgin Mary with Christ. These frescos are 20th century restorations, but the Chiesa di San Biagio has some originals. The Church of San Biagio in Ravecchia, known as the red church, also has frescos.

The walk from Castello di Montebello to Castello di Sasso Corbaro provides a stunning view of the Chapel of San Sebastian (Chiesa San Sebastiano). On a hilltop with the alps derriere and the vineyards in front, it is sunning.