CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY
In 1922, in the immense and distant city of lights and skyscrapers, Ignazio Descisciola and his wife Rosa Panzarino, who had emigrated to the New York like so many inhabitants of Grumo, had a dream for their hometown. They wished to give the town a permanent gift of faith. They owned a small piece of land and they decided to use it for this project, facing the many difficulties arising due to the distance such as documentation, authorisations and general correspondence which all took a long time to arrive. They were not discouraged however and in the final documents the couple declared that this was their wish and they gave up all rights to the property for themselves and their heirs. There was one condition: the church was to be dedicated to St. Anthony. Work began in 1928 and the building took shape slowly.
The main façade was built in ashlar and white plaster, four pillars decorate the space and a framed pediment completes the harmony. Above the pediment a straight wall houses six small windows which let in a soft light, immersing the church in an atmosphere of reflection. At the centre of the façade an arched doorway invites the faithful to step inside, a silent passage from daily life to a sacred space. Over time, the church became the hub of the Lupara neighbourhood and every year, during the festival of St. Anthony, the doors are opened and the community gathers to pray, sing and share. On that special day, bread is handed out to all those present, a simple but profound gesture recalling the peasant roots of the town. This church tells the story of a couple who wished to leave to their hometown a gift of faith and love. A story which transcends time, and reminds us that the greatest dreams have no boundaries.