CHURCH OF ST. ANNE
The history of this small church dates back to 1761 when an altar dedicated to St. Anne was erected in the Mother church. This moment sparked a collective desire, which brought together many devotees. The Confraternity of St. Anne was thus created, a group of simple men and women who wished to gather in prayer and mutual support, help the poor and bring comfort to the neediest families. The figure of the saint went beyond just devotion: there was a silent pact of solidarity, reciprocal care and hope. Over the years the confraternity felt that the altar alone was no longer enough to demonstrate their faith; they wanted a place just for them, a refuge for the community. Therefore, at the beginning of the 1900s, they decided to convert an old building, once a carriage depot, into a small church.
The building is simple, almost hidden between others, but its plastered façade and arched entrance conceal a living spirit. In 1913, the building was completed with a small bell tower to call the faithful. When the confraternity was dissolved, the church passed into the hands of private citizens. Today its doors are not always open but when they are, especially on the festival of St. Anne, the building is once again filled with voices, songs and devotion. It is as if the stones themselves remember the devotion which transformed a simple building into a sacred place with such sacrifice and perseverance. Walking along that narrow street, surrounded by modern houses, the church is almost a secret, a treasure chest of faith, community and tenacity. Every year on the saint’s festival day, it is as if the confraternity was reunited once more, breathing life back to the church.