The Parish Church of Nostra Signora Assunta dominates Cessole with an imposing structure, surprising for its size and the way it fits into the hillside. Its official historical name is Santa Maria del Castello, a title inherited from the ancient parish church that once stood near the castle.
The foundation stone of the new church was laid in 1779. The project was entrusted to Giacomo del Carretto, an architect associated with the school of Filippo Juvarra, while the work was continued by Domenico Pedrotta and workers from Malcantone. The building was completed in 1784.
The most distinctive feature of the complex is the presence of two superimposed churches : on the upper level is the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption; on the lower level is the church of San Sebastiano, an ancient oratory of the Confraternity of the Disciplinati, known to the locals as the Church of the Battuti.
What to see
The visit begins with the façade of the upper church, enlivened by concave wings, twin pilasters, and a large broken tympanum. At the center is an elliptical window, while at the top, the inscription AD 1784 commemorates the year the building was completed.
The interior is organized along a single nave that leads the eye toward the high altar. Stucco work, polychrome decorations, arches, and side chapels create a cohesive ensemble in Baroque style. Among the most interesting elements are the carved wooden pulpit, the side altars, the altarpieces dedicated to the saints and the Virgin Mary, and an 18th-century statue of the Madonna, likely from the previous church.
Look up at the vaults, decorated in the 19th century with scenes dedicated to the Assumption, Saint Alexander, the Evangelists, and the Virtues. Near the choir are also depictions of Saint Cecilia and musical instruments, connected to the presence of the organ.
When accessible, the visit can continue in the lower church of San Sebastiano , the ancient seat of the Battuti. The space features a rare trilobate floor plan, polychrome decorations, stucco, 19th-century paintings by Andrea Rossi, and a 1674 altarpiece depicting the Madonna, Baby Jesus, Saint Sebastian, and Saint Joseph.
From the small square in front of the parish church, you can admire the landscape of the Bormida Valley and spot, on the other bank, the churches of Sant'Alessandro and Madonna della Neve. Access to the parish church is usually possible during services; to visit the interior and the lower church at other times, contact the Municipality of Cessole or the parish.
