Chiesa di Santa Maria in Valle

The church of Santa Maria in Valle, also known as the church of Santa Maria del Transito, is a small sacred building in Schio, located near the historic center. It is situated in the area between the hill of Schio's castle and that of the "clumps of the friars," hence the name "Santa Maria in Valle."
The first documents mentioning the existence of this structure date back to 1477 and 1482, but at that time the building was merely a small chapel.
According to tradition, it was due to the will of 1511 of Leonzio de Taioli, a local painter who painted a Madonna dello Spasimo, that it was transformed into a small church, certainly before 1580, when the oratory was frescoed by a pupil of Montagna.
Subsequent studies, however, would suggest that the transformation into a chapel happened earlier, as the date 1485 has been found inscribed on the columns of the façade. This date coincides with the conversion of the shrine into a proper oratory.
In the 18th century, the building was restored by the chronicler and painter from Schio, Giacomo Pozzolo. In 1814, the original frescoes, now deteriorated, depicting the Transito of the Madonna were replaced by one executed by Antonio Dal Bianco on the same theme.
In the early years of the 20th century, the oratory underwent new restoration work, and in 1968/69 the chapel was subjected to a general conservative restoration aimed at recovering the ancient frescoes still existing.
The building presents a quadrangular body preceded by a porch defined on the front side by two ogival arches, while on the sides by round arches supported by stone columns.
The main body features a central portal flanked by two quadrangular windows. The exteriors are partly plastered and partly made of exposed brick and stone.
The interior consists of a single very small and intimate room, characterized by the presence of a Tudor arch above the altar, where one can admire the remnants of Dal Bianco's fresco decoration, detached from the wall and transferred to a panel during the recent restorations, and a 18th-century fresco depicting the Nativity (left wall).
On the left side of the church, there is a stone arch from the 18th century, one of the ancient accesses to the arable land owned by the Da Schio counts. It presents as an arc with a round top in regular stonework, and on the key of the arch, the noble coat of arms can be seen. The composition is completed by spherical decorative elements in stone and two small obelisks.
From the ground beneath the oratory, a small spring emerges, forming the Gaminella stream, which remains visible for a few meters right in front of the chapel, before continuing above the road level.