Through evocative trails starting from the center of Salcedo, two ancient little churches with their charm unchanged over the centuries can be easily reached.
The sites are guardians of the historical and artistic heritage of the Vicentine foothills and important testimonies of the strong bond between beauty and religious devotion in these lands. They consist of the oldest Church of San Valentino, an ancient hermitage dating back to the 11th century, and the Church of Sant’Anna, a new sanctuary, dated 1877, both situated at the top of the Colle di San Valentino, known in the Middle Ages as Monte Maggiore.
They can be reached by car up to about 250 m from the top, after which the last stretch is followed by a wide stepped mule track. The two buildings preserve the distinctive features of early medieval art in their plastic simplicity.
The two sacred constructions are close to each other and surrounded by the magnificent hilly landscape of the foothills.
The older little church was built before the year 1000, originally dedicated to San Sigismondo and erected by the noble family Pagello. In the 16th century, it received another dedication to San Valentino, during the War of Cambrai in 1509, due to the fact that the townspeople of Breganze, who sought refuge here, brought his effigies and those of St. Anna.
It was subject to the parish of Breganze and was a sacred and revered place for all. The charming little church is characterized by a Romanesque style and still stands out today for its simple and distinctive features of the high medieval period. Over the centuries, it underwent several renovations, before falling almost into ruin and becoming a storage place for straw, wood, and agricultural tools. In 1971, it was restored and returned to its original state thanks to devoted volunteers. The church, with a wooden nave, is flanked by a large sacristy. For several centuries, it was considered the parish church instead of the church of Quirico and Giulitta, as evidenced by the baptismal font and the underlying cemetery. The apse was oriented to the east, as was usual in ancient churches, and also features an ancient belfry.
The devotion to the two saints grew more and more so that in 1875 after the cholera epidemic, it was decided to also build the second building: the Church of St. Anna. With the creation of this church, there was a gradual abandonment of the old one in the early decades of the 20th century. Its construction was completed around 1884, with the entire community participating both financially and manually. Its blessing took place in 1884, while the current altar was placed and blessed in 1923, and is the work of the Cavallini brothers from Pove, enhanced by brass candlesticks. Until a few decades ago, the walls were covered with numerous ex-votos in embroidery, silver hearts, or painted wooden tablets, expressions of vibrant popular piety, which have since been removed. It has a circular plan and an accentuated height that makes it clearly distinguishable. This little church was positioned in front of the existing ancient church.
Thus, there are two buildings, one smaller and older, and the other larger. The devotion to the two saints has been passed down over time and has become a definitive reference over the centuries, both at a religious and civil level. The oratory of Saints Anna and Valentino houses in the presbytery a valuable polychrome wooden statue from the second quarter of the 15th century representing “Saint Anna teaching her daughter Maria to read”. The work underwent restoration and gilding in 1920 by Ferdinando Demetz of Ortisei.
The sanctuary is a destination for pilgrimages throughout the year, with a peak approaching July 26, the anniversary of the feast of Saint Anna. Before this date, a preparatory novena takes place from July 17 to 26, with a holy mass in the morning at 6 and one at 20.
