Chiesa del Follo

The Church of San Gottardo and Santa Maria Maddalena in Follo dates back to the 15th century: on the West façade of the building, in fact, the date 1477 die 19 iulii is clearly readable. The toponym of the district recalls the ancient activity of wool fulling practiced by the inhabitants of this locality. Inside, on the left, there is a beautiful series of 8 Saints painted in the 15th century by an artist known as the “Master of Fol,” recognizable by the precise outline of the figures traced with a dark brush, by the calligraphic rendering of the numerous details, and by the lean and almost rough effect of the faces. In the cycle of frescoes, one can obviously recognize Saint Gottardo and Saint Maddalena, the patrons of the church. A blood-soaked Christ stands out, expressing intense drama. Saint Gottardo is also visible on the precious altar frontal from 1748. After admiring the paintings, as you exit, look to your left: a peculiar feature of this church is the presence of many crutches donated as ex-votos by pilgrims and sick people who were healed through the intercession of the saint bishop. Enigmatic is the decoration on the architrave of the portal, where a compass, squares, a saw, a bird, and some tongs are visible, elements that suggest a repurposed artifact. The little church is surrounded by a low wall, and during late summer you can admire the wonderful blooming of an ancient Aster. In front of the church, on the opposite side of the road, a historic washhouse is still visible. Near the village of Nave, there was already, in Roman times, a port and a ferry that allowed crossing the Piave, connecting the Venetian plain with the Valbelluna through the Praderadego pass; perhaps this role of transit led to the devotion to Saint Oswald of Northumbria to whom the church is dedicated.