Church of San Giuseppe Artigiano

Church of San Giuseppe Artigiano

The Church of San Giuseppe Artigiano, built between 1965 and 1966 in Montebeni, represents the last work of architect Raffaello Fagnoni.
A church that symbolizes the perfect integration of nature and human artifice, it is characterized by the use of poor materials, which, by colors and formal solutions aimed at illuminating the interior with natural light, seem to blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape.

The entrance, marked on the facade by the bell tower, formed by two septa stiffened by brackets supporting the bells, is formed by the co-presence of various elements juxtaposed and connected by the profile of the roof. The volume of the baptistery is characterized by the essential craftsmanship of the interior finishes, with concrete left exposed also prevailing for the baptismal font. The south-facing apse ends with a curved wall with brick facing, which is interrupted on the east side, directing natural light inward. On the west side of the liturgical hall are two valuable concrete works, the Madonna and Child and an articulated candelabra, by sculptor Amalia Ciardi Duprè. The high altar, dedicated to St. Joseph, created by the same artist, consists of a concrete stele depicting the saint and a terracotta dossal.

Also deserving of attention are the exposed concrete Stations of the Cross panels on the east wall by Flora Vannini, the stoup by ceramist Arnaldo Miniati, and the mosaic ambo by Cypriot artist Aristides.