Montegrosso - Church of Saint Rocco
The ex-voto of the Municipality
Owned by the Municipality, which erected it with the aim of satisfying a vow (probably to thank the Lord who, through the intercession of Saint Rocco, stopped the spread of the plague).
This church was revised and enlarged several times: it was a simple chapel at first, then in 1800 it was increased in height and extended.
Inside the church, the statue of Saint Rocco, patron Saint, can be admired, but in reality there were two statues: the more ancient one, which was made in 17th century and was kept here but was stolen in 1985, and a second statue made in 18th century and still preserved in the Brotherhood.
Even today a solemn procession takes place on the day of the Patron Saint: following an ancient tradition, the first mass of the day is celebrated in suffrage of the deceased in the parish, then the procession is started with the statue of the Saint preceded by the music band on the head, followed by the Civil Authorities with the Municipal Administration in full, Religious Companies and Associations, the parish priest with the altar boys and behind the Saint all the faithful. Once back in the church of Saint Rocco, the second mass is celebrated in his honor. At the end, the inhabitants of the village offer a plentiful refreshment.
Inside the church are preserved many "ex-voto", i.e. votive paintings that were offered by those people who had obtained an heavenly grace, in this case through the intercession of Saint Rocco or Saint Anthony the Abbot. The oldest among them dates back to 1704.