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Farnocchia Chapel
The construction of a small chapel arises from the desire to provide a new recognizable landmark within the mountain village of Farnocchia, a small centre surrounded by the Apuan Alps, with narrow streets and houses made of stone. The installation is one of the key stops of the event “Melodie e Sentieri”, a musical trek that connects the villages of Farnocchia and Sant’Anna di Stazzema. Both villages undergone a tragic event during the World War II. The centre of Farnocchia was set on fire by the Nazi in the course of an operation against the Italian resistance. This dreadful moment culminated in the neighbour village of Sant’Anna di Stazzema, where many people had taken refuge, where the Waffen-SS murdered about 560 people and burned their bodies. The modern trek is on one side a memory of this event but as well a moment of joy and a way to bring back people to these villages, sparsely inhabited during the year.
The installation aims to establish a dialogue with the surrounding landscape and bring to light the latent traits of the area. For this reason, the intervention recalls the traditional typology of the “marginette” (small buildings scattered along mountain paths conceived as refuges and devotional chapels) and offers itself as a new space for meeting and meditation. From the outside, the archetypal pyramid-shaped form reinterprets the traditional elements of the area, in particular the old triangular wooden huts that once characterized the region. The entrance, emphasized by a narrow passage, is filtered by a stone block carved as a staircase, which aspires to recall a contained monumentality and harmoniously coexists with the intimacy of the space. Inside, the dimly lit environment is enlivened by a candle and a skylight, through which light, rain, and wind can enter. The structure is completely made up of a wooden framework cladded with raw wooden planks, a natural material wildly available in the area. The construction is the result of a participatory building process conceived for the community of Farnocchia.
The structure is entirely crafted from locally sourced natural wood, seamlessly integrating the building into the distinctive natural surroundings of the area. The rustic feel of the wood harmonizes with the pristine mountain landscape, highlighting a deep respect for local culture and traditions. The participatory construction process further strengthens this connection, allowing every community member to actively contribute and infuse their dedication into this symbolic edifice. This chapel is not just a physical space; it serves as a vessel for a narrative, recounting the history, challenges, and hopes of the mountainous region. It stands as a place of remembrance and simultaneously exudes vitality and love, offering a glimmer of hope to a region shadowed by the scars of war. It provides a sanctuary where people can find solace in the melodies of music, intertwining their souls with the harmonies resonating through this symbolic structure.
