Monumental Church of St. Gaudenzio

The first documents testifying to the existence of a primitive chapel date back to the early 1000s. Indeed, Bascapè, bishop of Novara from 1593 to 1615, in his book 'Novaria Sacra', mentions a document about the existence in Baceno of a 'cappellam' donated to the canons of St. Mary of Novara by Gualberto, bishop of Novara from 1032 to 1039.
The chapel with a rectangular plan was located where the presbytery is today. Built in Lombard Romanesque style, it was dedicated to St Gaudentius, the first bishop of Novara (337-417).
The first enlargement should be dated between the 12th and 13th centuries. As there was not enough space, the orientation was changed, north-south, building what is now the nave (including the two small aisles) and the Romanesque façade between the two pilasters.
In 1326, where the entrance to the primitive chapel was located, the cleric Signebaldo de Baceno son of Giacomo erected the Chapel of Our Lady.
As Christianity spread among the people of Antigorio, the need was felt for a new enlargement and embellishment of the church with the addition of the present side aisles.
The occasion was given in 1486 by the marriage of Bernardino de Baceno, imperial vavasour
of Antigorio and Formazza, to the noblewoman Ludovica Trivulzio, daughter of Antonio Trivulzio, representative of the Duke of Milan in Ossola.
Towards the end of the 15th century, work began on the construction of the aisles, emphasising the Gothic style, and at the same time work began on the frescoes, which were not completed until 1542 with the great Crucifixion on the right wall of the presbytery
Beginning in the last decade of the 16th century, as a result of the new regulations dictated by the Council of Trent, the interior of the church was subjected to new interventions that significantly altered its structure, with the result that Baroque style was added to Romanesque and Gothic.

Source: www.comune.baceno.vb.it