Churches and shrines: Pontboset

The current Gom chapel, which dates back to the third decade of the 18th century, was rebuilt on the remains of a previous, much smaller building, with a south facing entrance. The splendid baroque altar is most likely the work of one of the many Valsesian artists active within the eighteenth century in Valle d’Aosta, Francesco Antoni d’Alberto. On the facade of the chapel there is a gracious and unusual ornamental motif.

The original church was built between 1622 and 1624, therefore shortly before the foundation of the parish (1625), but it was then rebuilt in 1843-44, working on the plans and under the management of the architect Pacifique Dallou of Donnas. In 1910, the internal walls were frescoed by the painters Stornone, Sardi and Carretti.
The altar dates back to the nineteenth century, but contains statues from 1706, by Serra, a maestro from Biella. The triumphal crucifix is said to date back to 1625. In the square in front of the church there is a beautiful stone fountain, built in 1830 by the stone cutter Peraldo of Biella.

The Retempio Sanctuary, which dates back to 1835, comprises a chapel dedicated to Nostra Signora della Visitazione and San Rocco. Inside is a gilded wooden statue of the Madonna and two polychrome statues of Sant’Andrea and San Bartolomeo. The sanctuary is named after the nearby summer mountain pasture of Tempioz. From the sanctuary, which is the destination of a pilgrimage tradition held on 2nd July, there is a beautiful view of Mount Rosa and Matterhorn.