The Church of Santa Marta: a silent guardian ↑ Back to top The “Lamentation”, depicting the moment when, after the Crucifixion, Christ’s body is taken down and mourned by His Mother and the disciples, is housed in the Church of Santa Marta, in Bellano’s historic centre. The church dates back to the 14th century and once belonged to the confraternity of the same name. Simple on the outside, it conceals an intimate, atmospheric interior, with Baroque side altars and traces of ancient frescoes. A sculpture that speaks to the heart ↑ Back to top The “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” is entirely carved in polychrome wood. The sculptural group comprises eight near life-size figures: the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, John, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and other holy women, all gathered around Christ’s lifeless body. Every face, every fold of cloth, every tear seems to tell a story of human grief and deep faith. The expressions are so true they feel animated; the outstretched hands, strained features and eyes lifted towards the heavens still move visitors today. 💬 “In Bellano we say you don’t have to be religious to be struck by it. In front of the Lamentation, even those who never pray fall silent.” Made between the late 15th and early 16th century Created between the late 15th and early 16th century, the work is attributed to the Lombard school of Giovanni Angelo Del Maino, one of the most refined workshops of Renaissance wood sculpture. Artists from this school were renowned for turning wood into flesh and feeling, carving figures that seem to live and breathe. The Lamentation is not only a religious scene: it is theatre of emotion. The figures are not static, but captured mid-gesture — a cry, a movement, a caress held in suspension. It is as if time stopped in that precise instant between death and hope. Many scholars regard it as one of Italy’s finest interpretations of the subject, for intensity and realism. Up close, you notice astonishing details: the tears carved into Mary Magdalene’s eyes, John’s hand supporting Christ’s arm, and even traces of raw wood showing beneath the paint, making the work feel even more human. 💬 Local note: in past centuries, during Holy Week, the women of the village gathered in the church to recite prayers in front of the Lamentation, lighting candles and weaving olive branches. People used to say that “whoever prayed there, never cried alone again”. 🏛️ From Lake Como to the Louvre Museum in Paris ↑ Back to top In 2013, for the first time in its history, the “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” left the Church of Santa Marta for an extraordinary journey: it was exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, in the international show “Le Mystère du Bois – L’art sacré en Lombardie à la Renaissance”. The work was selected as one of the highest expressions of 16th-century Lombard wood sculpture, alongside pieces from Milan, Bergamo and Valtellina. For Bellano, it was a moment of immense pride. Seeing a part of our village displayed among the world’s masterpieces felt like saying: “we, too, belong to the great story of art”. After the loan, the work returned to Bellano, welcomed by a public ceremony and a collective embrace from the community. Today, visitors don’t find just a sculpture: they find a story of renewal and local pride. Visit tips ↑ Back to top 📍 Where: Church of Santa Marta, Via Manzoni – Bellano (historic centre) 🕒 Opening hours: the church is usually open in the morning and afternoon. 🎫 Entry: free, though a donation is recommended to help maintain the artworks. 💡 Local tip: go in late afternoon, when warm light filters through the side windows and brushes the faces of the Lamentation. It’s an experience that stays with you. 🔍 Frequently asked questions – Lamentation over the Dead Christ ↑ Back to top ❓ Where is the “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” located? It is housed in the Church of Santa Marta, in the historic centre of Bellano, close to the lakefront. ❓ When was it made? Between 1510 and 1520, by artists from the Lombard school of Giovanni Angelo Del Maino. ❓ How many figures are in the sculptural group? Eight near life-size figures, carved in wood and painted. ❓ Was it really exhibited at the Louvre? Yes. In 2013 the work was shown at the Louvre Museum in Paris in an exhibition devoted to Lombard Renaissance wood sculpture. ❓ Why is it so famous? For the extraordinary realism of the figures and the emotional power of the scene, considered among Italy’s finest interpretations of this subject. ❓ How can you visit it? The church is open at weekends and during religious events. Entry is free, with the option of guided visits. In short: a place that speaks for Bellano ↑ Back to top Bellano’s “Lamentation over the Dead Christ” is a hidden treasure that reveals the depth of Lombard sacred art — and the soul of the village itself: authentic, intense, and able to move anyone. It’s an essential stop for travellers who want to discover a more intimate, spiritual side of Lake Como. From ancient roots to the lights of the Louvre, it continues to unite faith, art and identity, proving that even a small village can safeguard a universal emotion. “It isn’t just wood, and it isn’t just art. It is grief, faith and beauty that withstand time.” And for your stay, I recommend choosing an apartment in Bellano at Villa Vista Lago. Check availability and book now