Parish Church of Donnas

Access

The Church of San Pietro in Vincoli is located in the municipality of Donnas, in Valle d'Aosta, and is easily accessible thanks to its central position in the historic village. Getting there:

- By car: Donnas is located along State Road 26, a few kilometres from the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit on the A5 Turin-Aosta motorway. Follow the signs for Donnas and continue towards the town centre, where there are nearby car parks.
- By train: Donnas railway station is on the Turin-Aosta line. From the station, the church can be reached by a short walk through the old town.
- On foot: For those travelling along the ancient Via Francigena, Donnas is a significant stop, and the church is located not far from the stretch of Roman road and the Roman arch in the heart of the village.
- By bus: Donnas is served by regular regional buses that connect the main municipalities in Valle d'Aosta and Pont-Saint-Martin.
On reaching the village, the church is located in the central area and is well signposted. The hamlet's location also offers a picturesque setting, perfect for those who wish to combine a visit with a walk through history and nature.

Introduction

The parish church of Donnas, dedicated to Saint Peter in Chains, is a place of worship rich in history and art, located in the heart of the Aosta Valley. One of the oldest parishes in the diocese of Aosta, this church recounts centuries of faith and architectural transformations, reflecting the tenacity and creativity of the local community. Its origins date back to the 12th century, when the church, initially built in Treby, was destroyed by a flood. It was rebuilt in the following century in its present location, but the building we admire today is the result of a 19th-century rebuilding, carried out between 1829 and 1830 by the entrepreneur Vittorio Valz di Andorno to a design by the architect Antonio Delleani.

Description

The current structure is rectangular in shape, with three naves separated by massive square stone pillars supporting round arches. The interior is embellished with frescoes painted in 1829 by brothers Francesco and Lorenzo Avondo, giving the vaults a luminous and solemn atmosphere. Of particular interest is the marble high altar, surmounted by a monumental canopy and embellished with a tabernacle, testimony to the artistry of the craftsmen of the time. In the left aisle, a side altar preserves an 1831 canvas depicting the Virgin with Saints Apollonia, Bear and Pantaleon, the work of the Avondo brothers.
Of great value are the wooden works created between 1832 and 1833 by the Valsesian sculptor Giacomo Badarelli, who carved the pulpit, choir stalls, chancel, baptistery and confessionals, all in walnut wood, with extraordinary skill. The bell tower, which dominates the village, houses a bas-relief depicting St Peter giving his blessing, a fragment of the ancient medieval church that survives as a historical memory.
In addition to the main building, the territory of Donnas is dotted with chapels that testify to the community's deep devotion. Among these is the chapel of Sant'Orso, probably the oldest, located at the western end of the medieval village, built to protect the houses from the frequent flooding of the Dora Baltea river. Another chapel of note is the Sacro Cuore chapel, built in 1898 inside the convent of the nuns of San Giuseppe, now transformed into the 'Domus Pacis' rest home.
The church of San Pietro in Vincoli is not only a place of worship, but also a guardian of local traditions and the history of Donnas. The village, crossed by the ancient Roman road that led to Gaul, retains a strong link with its past as a commercial and cultural crossroads. Traditions linked to wine production and the famous St. Bear Wood Fair are intertwined with religious life, creating a unique social and cultural fabric.
Visiting this church means immersing oneself in an atmosphere suspended between history and spirituality, discovering an artistic and architectural heritage that speaks of devotion, artisan talent and the ability to resist the passage of time.