Sondrio, Collegiata dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio

The church, already existing in the 12th century, is certainly one of the oldest in Valtellina.
It was altered and enlarged many times until it was rebuilt according to the plans of Pietro Ligari(1686-1752). He was an artist from Valtellina who was the founder of a family of painters linked to their land of origin but culturally open and active outside the valley.
The Façade, rebuilt in Neoclassical style in 1838 by Giuseppe Sertoli, an engineer from Sondrio, has a fresco in the lunette over the doorway that is by Antonio Caimi depicting a "Madonna with Child and Saints Gervasio and Protasio", the protectors of the city.
Next to the church is the massive Bell Tower. Here are paintings of great artistic interest by Pietro Ligari. Among them, on the pilaster between the first and the second chapel on the right, is the "Madonna of the Rosary with Child and Saints" (1738) and, next to it, the "Miracle of St. Gregory the Great" (1720), considered one of the painter's masterpieces.
On the pilaster between the second and third chapels on the right is the "Transit of St. Joseph" by the 18th century paitner, G. Petrini (1755).
In the transepts are two gigantic paintings with the "Martyrdom of Saints Gervasio and Protasio" and "Transporting their Relics" by G. Parravicino.
The imposing side altars were designed by P. Ligari and built of precious marbles by Carlo Buzzi (18th century).