The Chapel of Santa Croce stands in open countryside, to the south of the village of San Vittore. It consists of a single rectangular nave with a flat wooden ceiling and a square-shaped chancel with a cross vault. The nave, preceded by a vestibule, was added to a pre-existing chapel – probably dating to the 15th century – in 1653, and has now become the chancel’s side chapel.

An extraordinary 15th century fresco cycle – in fragmented condition and attributed to the Seregnesi workshop – can be admired here. The Crucifixion scene, featuring the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist, is depicted on the back wall, inserted into a painted recess. Above this God the Father is represented and to the sides the Annunciation, of which only the figure of the Virgin Mary remains.

The chapel’s current structure dates to 1653, the year that appears above the two entrances. It was later restored between 1975 and 1977. In 2024, the relics of Nicholas of Flüe, the Patron Saint of Switzerland, were laid to rest in the oldest part of the chapel.

Source:

Anderes, Bernhard. Guida d'Arte della Svizzera italiana. Edizione aggiornata. Taverne, Nuova Edizioni Trelingue, 1998.