Chiesa di San Martino

From the Lombard era, to the modern radiant innovation.

The Church of San Martino located in Zanano (Brescia, Italy) has ancient origins, dating back to the end of 600 when the Lombards, coming from northern Europe, settled in the area. In 757, Desiderio, of Brescian origin, became king and favored the economic and social development using Benedictine monasteries and episcopal curies. He founded the Monastery of San Salvatore (Santa Giulia), to which he donated the Trompia Valley. The first church of Zanano was built for the community prayer of the nuns and the local inhabitants, consolidating the Catholic religion. In 962, Otto I entrusted the control of the territories to bishops/counts, including the count/bishop of Brescia, who managed the monastic complex with the Avogadro family.

In 1426, Brescia became part of the Republic of Venice until 1797. The Avogadro kept the church open to the local population. The church was rebuilt in 1604 and dedicated to San Martino. Between 1609 and 1616, paintings by Camillo Rama and the celebration of daily Mass were added. After the plague of 1630, donations to the church increased. In 1852, Don Luigi Torri renewed the church. At the end of 1800, the church and the patrimony were donated to the Congregation of the Handmaids of Charity of Brescia, who used it as an orphanage. In 1931, Zanano became an autonomous parish and in 1957 frescoes were added. In 1971, during work on the bell tower, frescoes of the '500 emerged. In 2006, the Maids ceded part of the property to the City, while the church remained in the parish.

Between 2022 and 2023, the church’s heating system was renovated. To preserve the environment and the works of art, the MORE FTA underfloor radiant heating system was chosen. This innovative system with low thickness, low inertia and high efficiency, not only guarantees immediate comfort, but also enhances the context thanks to the wooden cover, eliminating any imperfection and restoring the purity of the spaces.