Typology and qualification: subsidiary chapel

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Name: Chapel of the Madonna della Mercede (Gerbole, Rivalta di Torino)

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Other denominations: Our Lady of Mercy (fr. Gerbole)

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Cultural field (role): rural architecture (construction), subalpine workers (construction)

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Historical News:

XIX  (whole well construction)

The chapel of the Madonna della Mercede, incorporated in the Cascina Badello (in the Gerbole district of Rivalta), was most likely built in the first half of the 1800s, also because it does not yet appear in the Napoleonic land registers.

Initially it was a small private chapel, but in 1921 it obtained the faculty to give the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. On 4 June 1924 it was donated to the parish priest of Orbassano, with the surrounding land, so in 1927 the "Ente succursale della Parrocchia di Orbassano" was erected.

One of the chaplains enlarged it, the works started in 1925 and ended in 1939; the rectory was also built alongside. The population collaborated intensely by providing the necessary manpower and the means of transporting the material free of charge.

The administration was managed by two priors and two vice-priors; unfortunately there are no chronological lists, but it is only known that they were elected with the suffrage of all the villagers, as prescribed by the statute of 1927.

The building has the shape of two rectangles nestled into each other; inside, next to the right wall is the statue of the Madonna della Mercede purchased in Spain in 1925.

Three frescoes depicting the Madonna, S. Grato and S. Antonio Abate adorn the external facade of the building.

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Description:

The chapel is part of the parish complex which also includes the bell tower and several houses. The plastered façade has two lateral pilasters on which the tympanum rests. The entrance portal is central with two lateral rectangular openings. There is a stone plinth on the facade and on the side elevations, on which there are two windows on each side. The building has a rectangular plan and a presbytery area with a raised rectangular plan with respect to the assembly. The interiors are plastered. There are detachments of plaster due to infiltrations and rising damp phenomena. The hall and the presbytery have barrel vaults. The flooring is in alternating colored concrete tiles laid in a checkerboard pattern.

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Facade

The plastered façade has two lateral pilasters on which the tympanum rests. The entrance door is central with two lateral rectangular openings.

 

Plant

The hall and the presbytery have a rectangular plan, the presbytery being smaller. The assembly is arranged on two rows of benches along the longitudinal axis of the hall.

 

Presbytery

The presbytery area is raised and includes the lectern and the marble altar.

 

 

Liturgical adaptation:nobody

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