Santa Maria della Misericordia

Santa Maria della Misericordia in Ascona is a late-Gothic church in Ticino, set beside the Collegio Papio a short walk from Lake Maggiore. Visitors come for the frescoes, among the most extensive late-Gothic painted cycles preserved in Switzerland.

What is Santa Maria della Misericordia?

The church was built around the turn of the 15th century and consecrated on 23 October 1442. Its slender bell gable carries the date 1488. Dominicans looked after it from 1510 to 1584, after which the neighbouring college took over the site. Today it still serves as the church of that complex.

How did the Collegio Papio come about?

In 1580 Bartolomeo Papio, an Ascona native who had made his fortune in Rome, left the community 25,000 scudi for a seminary. The school opened in 1584 and the college building went up between 1585 and 1592. In 1616 Cardinal Federico Borromeo handed it to the Oblates of Milan. It was secularised in 1852 and returned to its original purpose after 1879. Salesians ran it from 1894 to 1910, then Assumptionists, and since 1924 Benedictines.

What will you see inside?

• Fresco cycle: 36 panels on the nave walls show the life and Passion of Christ.
• Madonna della Misericordia above the portal, attributed to the circle of Maestro Domenico, dated 1490-1510.
• Restoration: conservation work ran on and off from 1993 to 2004, with the main campaign finished around 2002-2003.

How do you visit?

The usual entrance is from inside, through the college cloister. Admission is free. The church is open year-round, typically Monday to Saturday during daytime hours and with limited access on Sundays; check current times on ascona-locarno.com. Plan 20-30 minutes. It is a few minutes' walk from the centre of Ascona.

When is the best time to go?

The interior makes it a good rainy-day stop. Spring and autumn are calmer than high summer, and a visit pairs easily with a stroll along the lakefront promenade.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry free? Yes, there is no admission charge.

When was the church built? Around 1400; it was consecrated in 1442, and the bell gable is dated 1488.

Who founded the Collegio Papio? It was funded by Bartolomeo Papio's 1580 bequest. Charles Borromeo was involved in setting up the school, and the building was completed in 1592.

Is it worth visiting for art lovers? Yes. The 15th-century frescoes are the main draw and set this church apart from others in the region.