Shrines of Italy: Church of James the Less

The Church of Saint James the Less is a small chapel tucked quietly away in the hills of Piancovolo, a quaint Italian village not far from the town of Aviano. It was originally constructed in the early 12th century at the request of the reigning nobles of the time: the Signori family. And it was named after the Apostle James due to his popularity among the inhabitants as the patron of wayfarers and farmers.

The building that we see today is the result of extensive renovations that took place in the late 1700’s after the property was purchased from the Signori family by the Republic of Venice. The influence of Venetian architects can be seen in much of church’s masonry and interior design. The main altar for example dates back to 1700’s and bears a distinctly Venetian design in both color and characteristics, while the rest of the church smoothly carries this theme forward.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that behind the main altar stands a semicircular wooden choir bench, common to many churches of that era. And if you look up, you‘ll find an image of Saint James receiving a large crucifix from an angel, a symbolic representation of the suffering he would endure later in life.

Simultaneously, the church boasts of several Venetian side-altars, the most impressive of which depicts the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven. While each side altar is unique in its dedication, they all bear the same 18th century Venetian style in common, a feature that serves as a unifying force behind the church’s overall design.

One unique feature of Saint James however is the small, external courtyard connecting it to a 15th century Franciscan convent. Over the centuries, the occupants of this convent have served as the church’s permanent caretakers, and live in relative seclusion even today. Like most churches near Aviano, it’s a bit out of the way, and that’s just how the Francians like it.