Church of San Michele in Oleggio

Oleggio - The Church of San Michele is located just outside the walls of Oleggio, towards the west. Oleggio is a town in the province of Novara located at 232 meters above sea level and has 14,000 inhabitants. The church is one of the most interesting Romanesque buildings in the entire Piedmont area. It is inserted inside the municipal cemetery.

The current church has a basilica plan dating back to the eleventh century, but insists on the previous Lombard church of the seventh century as evidenced by documentation of the 900. During the sixteenth century it lost prestige and importance in favor of the new parish church of San Pietro, located, on the contrary, within the city walls. It was saved from total ruin and abandonment as it became a cemetery church. The church has three naves, three apses and a trussed roof. It also has an underground crypt. There are notable Romanesque frescoed cycles but most of them are unfortunately ruined. One can hardly guess a universal judgment and a Christ Pantocrator. There are also sketches of works in the Byzantine style.