Olfino
Welcome to Olfino!
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about a beautiful hamlet in the Monzambano municipality: Olfino! This small village, located in the province of Mantua, is a true gem to discover. In this article, I will talk about Olfino's main monument, the Church of the Holy Trinity. Are you ready to discover this treasure?
The Church of the Holy Trinity
The Church of the Holy Trinity is a religious building from the 14th century, located in Olfino. Despite many interventions over time, the church maintains the impression of medieval Romanesque style. The façade is decorated with arches along the roof's slopes, the round stromboid eye, and a lobed portal in the upper part. Furthermore, there is a small bell tower with four arched openings of the bell cell, where five bells, which until 1978 constituted the "Olfino concert," are located. Above the entrance, you can admire the 1966 terracotta panel depicting the persons of the Trinity.
The interior of the church
Once inside the church, you will be amazed by its beauty. The interior consists of a single nave with a trussed roof and a deep rectangular presbytery. There are also pictorial and stucco decorations that have overlapped over time. You will find at least two cycles of frescoes from the 16th century, executed at different times and by different hands. The frescoes were covered with stucco in the 17th century. Along the nave's walls, there are four arches decorated with stucco figures of Biblical characters, allegorical figures, and abbey coats of arms.
The chapels of the church
I recommend taking a look at the various chapels of the church. On the left, on the first vault's arch, within which the statue of the Sacred Heart is located, Moses and Elijah sit, with three female figures depicting Wisdom in the middle, Justice and Temperance at the ends. Follows the chapel of Saint Leonard, introduced by stuccoes of two Sibyls placed above the arch, and female figures depicting Meekness in the center, Prudence on the right, and Strength on the left. In the niche delimited by two caryatid-shaped pilasters, you can admire the statue of Saint Leonard. On the sides of the niche, there are the Archangel Michael striking Satan with the arrow and the Archangel Raphael guiding Tobias.
The presbytery
The presbytery, with a cross vault, with angels and grotesques, is introduced by an important triumphal arch. In the upper part, the Annunciation is depicted with the angel on one side and Mary on the other with the Eternal Father in the center. In the lower part, on the left, the figure of the Eritrean Sibyl Hermophile is opposed to that of the Prophet Isaiah. Further down, you can admire the statues of Saint Bernard Tolomei, the founder of the Benedictine congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, on the left, and Saint John the Baptist on the right.
Conclusions
In short, the Church of the Holy Trinity is a must-visit for all lovers of art and history. Olfino is a small hamlet that, unfortunately, is often overlooked by tourists. I invite you to visit it and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of this village and its church. You won't regret it!
