The Oratorio di San Giuseppe

The Oratorio di San Giuseppe is a small but beautiful chapel that gives its name to part of the larger village of San Cassiano di Controne in Tuscany.

It has a unique roof supported by large crossbeams and rafters, all of which are exposed and easily visible. The Oratorio also features a fine wooden baroque altar worked with gesso (plaster) to resemble marble.

Little is currently known about the history of the building, although it seems to have been originally dedicated to Saints Gregorio and Giuseppe. It was certainly in existence before the end of the Seventeenth Century, as Cardinal Francesco Bonvini refers to it in his Vista Pastorale, (no. 56 page 647) written in 1694.

...in the parish of San Cassiano di Controne there are four churches, the parish church ('Parrocchiale'), SS Sacremento e Nome di Gesù, Santa Zita, and the church on the Piazza under the name of Saint Gregorio and Saint Giuseppe…

The building was in use until the late 1980's. Each year a series of masses were held from the 10th of March for 9 days (called 'Novene'), finishing with a final mass on the 19th of March, the festival of San Giuseppe.

Regrettably the Oratorio can no longer be used as it is in a poor condition and urgently needs repairs to the roof and to the interior, which has been damaged by rain. If these repairs are not completed soon it is likely that this historic building will be lost.

The architect Pietro Luigi Baigiaoni has drawn up plans for the restoration and these have been approved by the local commune. Repair costs are estimated at 40,000 Euro, about 40,000 US Dollars or £25,000 Sterling.

Funds are being sought from a variety of sources, including the village itself, those with connections to the village, the church, Belle Arte and the banks. It is likely that the residents of San Cassiano will need to find the majority of the money required, and to arrange for the repairs to be completed themselves. However the village is small, and will struggle to do this alone. We therefore invite anyone who has connections with the village, or who loves the area, to contribute to the restoration fund.

Further information can be obtained from:

Comitato pro Oratorio di San Giuseppe
Via della Chiesa 39
San Cassiano di Controne
Bagni di Lucca (LU)
Italia.

The committee consists of:
Pietro Arrighi, President
Roberto Arrighi, Vice President
Sara Barsellotti, Secretary
Francesco Lazzeri, Treasurer
And committee members: Giancarlo Barsanti, Bernardo Bastiani, Demore Demei, Father Franco Vitali, Mauro Fabbri, Roberto Lucchesi, and Mariano Mariani.

Donations can be made by bank transfer, in any currency, to the appeal account:

Banca Toscana
Account Number - 786.15
Name - Arrighi P. Lazzeri F.
Pro Oratorio di San Giuseppi
ABI - 3400
CAB - 70090
SWIFT - TOSCIT 3 F 562

or by cheque made payable to:

Arrighi P. Lazzeri F. Pro Oratorio di San Giuseppi

and sent to the address above.

Exterior view

Interior view

Altar

Detail of altar