Start looking at the art treasures of Alpago at Pieve d’Alpago, where you can see the “mother” of all churches in Alpago.
The current appearance of the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario is a reconstruction based on Segusini’s design after the 1873 earthquake, and a slight deviation from the original building.
Inside there are 20th-century works and works from the older building, such as the Altarpiece of Our Lady of the Rosary attributed to Gaspare Diziani and the 16th-century altarpiece with Saints Cosmas and Damian attributed to Nicolò de Stefani.
Nearby, the small 15th-century church of San Floriano in Polis containing, among other works, a crucifix by Andrea Brustolon, is worth seeing.
In the hamlet of Garna, look inside the church dedicated to St Anthony Abbot with its rare wooden coffered ceiling and 3 monumental 17th century gilded and polychrome altars. Another special feature of this small religious building is the statue of Our Lady of Loreto, believed to be the oldest such image found in Alpago.
Next, go to Lamosano to see the parish church of San Lorenzo where the outstanding piece is The Last Supper by Francesco Frigimelica the Elder and admire his mastery of capturing and depicting details.
A short distance away, stop at the church of San Giuseppe in Chies d’Alpago. The church you see is from the early 20th century, but it stands where there was an earlier building and before that a capital dedicated to St Joseph. Among the important works inside is the monumental altarpiece with vivid and bright tones made by the Venetian Pietro Paoletti in 1866.
From here go to Tambre to the Church of Santi Ermagora e Fortunato, containing beautiful oil paintings of the Stations of the Cross, and to nearby Spert to the Church of San Floriano.
Descend to Farra d’Alpago where you will see the Church of Santi Filippo e Giacomo. Inside, the group of 3 statues of Calvary by Andrea Brustolon will certainly draw your attention.
If you love hiking, take a detour by reaching Lake Santa Croce to follow the loop trail to the Church of Madonna del Runal which, from a hilltop, looks over the Alpago area and Lake Santa Croce.
At Puos d’Alpago, in the Church of San Bartolomeo, see another work by Francesco Frigimelica the Elder, who did the beautiful high altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child between Saints Bartholomew the Apostle and Nicholas and the patrons below.
To complete your tour, go to the hamlet of Sitran to the Church of Sant’ Andrea decorated by, among other works, a Last Supper by Frigimelica full of details, and then see the Church of the Santissimo Redentore, in the hamlet of Bastia, where you can admire the frescoes of Giovanni De Min on the ceiling of the apse.
