Manera
Hello friends!
I am about to tell you the story of Manera, a hamlet located between the municipalities of Lomazzo and Rovellasca, in the province of Como. Manera is right on the border between the two municipalities and consists of a historic nucleus, belonging to the municipality of Lomazzo, and newly developed neighborhoods, belonging to the municipality of Rovellasca.
The history of Manera
Manera has a long history behind it. Originally, it was a farm located on the road from Saronno to Lomazzo. In the "Liber consulum civitatis Novocomi", the farm is also mentioned as "Cassina de la Manera" and the population registered at the time consisted of 23 families. Later, the farm was autonomously administered by the families that composed it, who also elected their own representative. The main function of these representatives was to supervise the distribution of taxes that each community had to pay to the State. Over the years, Manera has become increasingly important and in 1753 it appears in the "Index of parishes and communities of the State of Milan" as part of the municipality of Lomazzo.
Monuments and places of interest in Manera
Manera is a hamlet full of monuments and places of interest. The church of San Bartolomeo is perhaps the best known. It is the most important religious building in Manera and is also the seat of the parish of the hamlet. The current church was built in 1946, on the border between Lomazzo and Rovellasca, replacing the ancient church that was located in Piazza Trento, the central square of the historic nucleus. The church was designed by architect Enrico Casiraghi from Milan and consists of three naves. The central nave ends with a semicircular apse and is covered by a Lombard-style dome that rests on an octagonal tiburium. The stained glass windows ensure a very particular brightness to the church. The interiors are decorated with different narrative cycles that represent the symbols of the passion on the façade, the apostles on the side naves, Mary Queen of Angels around the apse, and the four evangelists in the small naves beside the presbytery.
The crypt is another very special place in the church of San Bartolomeo. Here, the tabernacle is made through a metal fusion that recalls the abstract motifs of the stained glass windows and the window/door of the crypt. There is also a chapel dedicated to the Madonna della Tenerezza, which contains a metal statue that refers to the Byzantine iconography.
Conclusions
This was a brief story about the history of Manera, a hamlet located in the province of Como. A city full of monuments and places of interest, such as the church of San Bartolomeo, a destination for many visitors for the suggestive illumination of its stained glass windows. If you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful hamlet!
