Pieve di San Mauro (Parish Church of St. Maurus), Noventa di Piave

20 min.

In the fall of 1917, after the retreat of Italian troops from Kobarid (the town is in Italy known as Caporetto and in German speaking areas as Karfreit), the advance of the Austro-Hungarian Army towards Noventa was preceded by the displacement of civilians, transfer of municipal offices to Rome and St. Maurus’ church bell tower demolition done to prevent its use as a watchtower by the adversary. The battles along the Piave went on for a year and ended with a complete devastation of the town and the loss of a vast majority of artistic and cultural heritage on its territory. The damage was so extensive that immediately after the war, the national authorities even discouraged the reconstruction, but the citizens’ determination prevailed and the rebuilding of Noventa began in 1919. The old St. Maurus’ parish church dates back to the 11^th century. An archaeological excavation campaign in this area has brought to light a number of remains that chronologically follow one another, from the Roman period, 1^st century B.C., until the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Text: Regione del Veneto
Photo: VeGAL