SAINT JAMES’ CHURCH AND SAINT PANTALEON’S CHAPEL
The Parish of Sala was established in 1875, marking an important chapter in the religious history of the hamlet. However, before this date, the area already hosted churches. Dating back to the 12th century, there is a chapel located near the Castello degli Albezi, where a monk from the Sacra di San Michele celebrated Mass. Over time, this chapel was expanded and renovated until it became the parish church of the hamlet, assuming a central role in the spiritual life of the community. The church of Sala is dedicated to Saint James. The church has a Latin cross plan, with a central nave ending in a semicircular apse, side chapels, and an apse transept. The facade is Baroque, with superimposed orders, articulated by pilasters; the lower order, wider, connects to the upper one with volutes; the upper order is finished with curvilinear frames. In the center of the facade, there is the entrance portal, surmounted by curvilinear frames. Above the facade, four pinnacles and a large terracotta cross stand out. Above the roof, corresponding to the left transept, rises the bell cell, without a bell, with exposed brick structure. On the front of the church, detached from it, is the bell tower, owned by the municipality.
Additionally, in the square stood another small church dedicated to Saint Pantaleon. However, in the 1950s, this structure was demolished and rebuilt in a modern style, positioned at the junction of Via Valgioie and Via San Francesco d’Assisi.
These places of worship represent not only important spiritual landmarks for the residents but also historical testimonies to the ancient religiosity that has permeated the life of the community over the centuries. The transformation and preservation of such buildings reflect the evolution and continuity of faith and religious practice in the hamlet.
SAINT GIACULIN’S CHAPEL
Saint Giaculìn’s chapel is dedicated to the Saints Philip and James the minor, known precisely as “Giaculìn”. Its first written mention dates back to the Rabbini census of 1864. Located in Borgata Sala, the building stands isolated on a hill along the road to Valgioie. It has a rectangular single-nave plan, with a barrel vault, and next to it is the sacristy with a cross vault. The altar, on the back wall, is in painted masonry, with an altarpiece depicting the Madonna with Saints Dominic and Rose.
THE VALLETTI’S CHAPEL
The Valletti’s Chapel, dedicated to “Madonna del Carmine”, is part of the Parish of San Lorenzo (Giaveno) due to its location beyond the provincial road that delimits the two parishes. The chapel, located along the slope towards Orbana river, features a characteristic porticoed vestibule and a pentacuspate bell tower. The chapel was built following the miraculous recovery of speech by Anna Francesca Ruffinatti, wife of Cesare Andrea Valletti, the representative of a noble family of Giaveno, in 1698. The miracle, which occurred on March 21, 1698, was the recovery of speech by Anna Francesca Ruffinatti, who invoked “Madonna del Carmine” when her horse, stuck in front of a votive pillar located near the current chapel, refused to continue the journey to Turin. This event led to the construction of the chapel as an ex-voto in honor of the Virgin Mary.
