San Giovanni Battista stands on Piazza San Giorgio, in the heart of Varenna, facing the church of the same square, San Giorgio. It is among the oldest churches on Lake Como.
History
The church probably dates to the 11th century, built on the site of an earlier paleochristian place of worship; local tradition attributes its foundation to a Templar knight returning from the Holy Land. The first documented mention dates to 1143, in a papal brief by Pope Celestine II; an eighteenth-century plaque also records enlargement works in 1151. The church was restored in 1967.
It remains unclear whether this building or the nearby San Giorgio was originally the seat of Varenna’s parish, a role disputed between the two churches.
What to see
- The thirteenth- and fourteenth-century frescoes on the side walls: Saint George slaying the dragon and Saint John the Baptist on the south wall, a large Adoration of the Magi on the north wall.
- In the apse, the Redeemer between the Virgin and the Baptist, from a later period.
- The Romanesque bell tower, built facing the lake according to ancient custom.
Practical information
The church is open for worship. For visiting hours and the calendar of services, refer to the parish of Varenna.