Chiesa di San Martino, La Morra historical timeline

1684–1695, or 1699. The parish church of San Martino was begun in 1684 and completed in 1695. The same source elsewhere states that the church was built in 1699. Both readings are in circulation and the discrepancy is not resolved.

The architect. The building is a testimony to the architectural activity of Michelangelo Garove (1650–1713), charged with composing a sacred building on a public space in an elevated position over the village. It is the first church built in La Morra's territory.

Who paid. The canonica and the sacred building were erected at the expense of the community, while the high altar was put up thanks to the financing of a certain "Messer Bartolomeo Mascarello", as appears from an inscription set upon it.

1713. The casa canonica was built, facing the little square of the church and communicating with the presbytery through the sacristy.

1715. Giovanni Carlo Aliberti painted the pala of the high altar, the Madonna and Child with saints Martin and Crispin.

1865, and a refusal. Funds were allocated for work on the paintings and the floor — but the Sub-prefect, finding the estimate too high and declaring the works not urgent, did not grant authorisation to proceed.

1868. The town council charged councillor Barberis with an inspection to verify how urgent the requests really were. After the visit to the parish the works began, carried out under the direction of the Archpriest, and were completed the following year.

And then more. The municipal technician Costamagna judged further restorations necessary. It was decided to work also on the paintings of the vaults of the side chapels and of the central nave; the stuccoes and ornaments in the side chapels were patched, and the ornaments and brackets of the intermediate body were "reduced to a state of perfection". Later the openings in the flanks were enlarged and internal repairs made to cornices, plaster and stuccoes.

11 January 1874. A fire caused grave damage to the building. Much of the furnishing — the tribune and the organ among it — was damaged and destroyed by the flames. Despite the severity, the church was restored in a short time and returned to the use of the parish community.

1879–1880. The painter Luigi Morgari was commissioned to execute the present paintings of the vault of the central nave, and further retouching.

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