The Parish Church San Gervasio e Protasio

Video produced by Gabriele Tomasoni, courtesy 21. October 2024

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The Parish Church of Trasquera stands at 1036 meters above sea level, on the eastern end of the rocky balcony that dominates the Varzo basin and characterizes the town. Built on an ancient chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, the church is already mentioned in the statues of the Divedro Valley of 1321. The building was enlarged after 1550 and the dates carved on the external masonry ranging from 1574 to 1620, testify to the subsequent phases of construction. The main body consists of the central nave with the main altar, and two side aisles with five minor altars and the baptistery. Then there is the sacristy of the Priests (1616) and that of the Brothers (1760). Above the entrance, the choir stage has a fine organ from 1878 consisting of 740 metal pipes and 32 wooden pipes. The bell tower, about 25 meters high, has a smooth shaft decorated with loopholes (the floor), mullioned windows, now walled up (III and IV floors), large blind mirrors crowned by 3 arches (II floor) and ends with an octagonal dome. The five current bells were cast in 1927, the largest (facing west) has a diameter of 101 cm, weighs about 600 kg. The concerto ("baudèta" in dialect) is in the key of G flat. Due to its special position, the church is clearly visible from a large part of the Val Divedro.
The effect at night is remarkable, when the church with its elegant gabled façade in regular masonry, the characteristic stone roof and the imposing Romanesque bell tower are expertly illuminated. 
Curiosity: In 1927 the transport of the new bells in the last stretch (from the Dinamo funicular to the church) was done with special sleds pulled by the men of Trasquera.