Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Macesina)

The church of Macesina is an ancient building, constructed in the 15th century. According to some sources, it was commissioned by Dr Ambrogio Avogadro (from whom it took its original name, which was changed in the 17th century), a wealthy banker from Salò, and may have already existed when, in 1482, the Holy See granted Archpriest Giacomo Averoldi permission to establish the two simple benefices of St Ambrose and St Peter for his family.
In 1580, it was visited by St. Charles, who praised Mr. Gabriele Cominelli, the wealthy owner of the place, who had recently restored it.
In 1672, the image of the Madonna under the title of the Presentation by the painter Grazio Cossali of Orzinuovi from 1584 was transported there from a small country chapel.
Next to the church is a small house for the chaplain. The ancient benefice of the Averoldi family was abolished together with the chaplaincy shortly after the unification of Italy in 1867.
The exterior of the building has a simple façade, with a Botticino stone architrave portal surmounted by a tympanum.
Inside, the church has a single barrel-vaulted nave punctuated by architectural convexities. The apse of the church is quadrangular in shape and on the back wall there is a marble altar dating back to 1730.
The niche containing a fresco from the early 16th century depicting the Madonna and Child Enthroned dates back to the early 1500s.