Cella
Introduction
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about a small Lombard village called Cella, which is located on a hill south of the inhabited center of Varzi.
History
Cella has a long and interesting history dating back to 835, when it was dependent on the Bobbio Abbey. Over the centuries, it was one of the places mentioned in the imperial diploma of 1164 and passed from the hands of the Malaspina to those of the Sforza di Santa Fiora, until it was divided between the municipalities of Varzi and Santa Margherita di Staffora in 1929.
The church-museum
Today, Cella's fame is mainly due to the Temple of Fraternity, a church-museum whose building was started in 1952 by the military chaplain of the Monterosa Division of the RSI, Don Adamo Accosa.
The Temple of Fraternity is an ecumenical place of worship that brings together different religions and cultures from around the world inside. For example, it houses statues of Hindu deities, a Black Madonna, and a crucifix, together with symbolic elements from various other religions.
The museum inside collects a vast collection of objects of all kinds, from weapons and World War II memorabilia to African masks and Russian icons.
Notes
In the past, the Marquisate of Cella consisted of many other hamlets, such as Nivione, Capo di Selva, Casale, Castellaro, Cegni, Cignolo, and Negruzzo. In the eighteenth century, all these centers were enclosed in the municipality of Cella, which in 1863 took the name of ''Cella di Bobbio''.
Other projects
Cella has been abolished as a municipality and today is part of the municipality of Varzi, but despite this, it is a fascinating and rich in history place that is worth a visit. If you are passionate about sacred art, the church-museum of the Temple of Fraternity is definitely not to be missed!
