Mario Botta’s mountain church in Mogno, Val Lavizzara, Canton Ticino, CH

            Mario Botta’s church in Mogno (Church of San Giovanni Battista) at the back of Maggia Valley represents human rebellion against the white death. It is an architectural masterpiece to aid against forgetting.
On 25 April 1986 at 7:15 in the morning, an avalanche came down in Mogno and destroyed the small 17th-century church. Once again nature showed its unpredictable and unruly side. 
Shortly afterwards, Mario Botta from Lugano was commissioned to rebuild the new church in honour of St. John the Baptist. In 1990, the contemporary church was opened, becoming one of Botta’s most important works. 
 The daring building made from alternating layers of native Peccia marble and Maggia Valley granite was extremely controversial, but eventually became a landmark that is known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. The church does not have any windows. The inside, which seats around 15 people, is only illuminated by natural light streaming in through the glass roof.  
The original church of San Giovanni Battista Decollato was built in 1626 and was initially a chapel of the parish of Peccia. Towards the end of the 17th century, it became an independent parish church. In 1940 it became part of the parish of Fusio.
The new church and the altar inside are located on the same spot as an earlier church and have strong energetic vibrations. The interplay between the forms and contrasts of the different materials makes this a unique spiritual experience.
Mogno is a village in Vallemaggia District in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Mogno is situated near the top of Val Lavizzara, a valley through which the upper Maggia river flows. Formerly part of the municipality of Fusio, which merged with adjoining municipalities in 2004 to form the new municipality of Lavizzara.
In the 17th century it possessed 50 taxable fireplaces. By 1801, the population had dropped to just 40 inhabitants. Today it is no longer inhabited all year round and serves only as a holiday village. Before Mogno was incorporated in 1936 into Fusio, it was part of Peccia, and the land around the settlement was shared between Fusio, Peccia, Prato and Sornica.



   

Taken in: Switzerland / Ticino / Lavizzara / Mogno (show map)

Taken on: August 18, 2022

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Sets appears in: • Mogno & Botta's Mountain Church

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Camera: Sony ILCE-9, f/11.0, 1/30 sec, 29mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9
Lens:	FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	29mm
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	ILCE-9 v6.00
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