The Name
The name derives from Matsch, which was the family name of the landowners from theVal Venosta who moved into the pieve of Mazzo during the XII century.
History
working in progress
SACRED ABLUTIONS AND RENAISSANCE ELEGANCE
The historical centre of Mazzo is located at the foot of the Orobie Alps and develops around a theatrical square with, in the background, fine churches and buildings belonging to noble families that over the centuries contributed to the history of the Valtellina.
Mazzo was the main town of one of the oldest pieve (parish church) in the valley; you can see many noble architectural examples and important churches, such as the Church of Santo Stefano and the Baptistery with its adjacent Church of Santa Maria, both overlooking the square.
The Pievana church of Santo Stefano, built on a pre-existent baptismal church from 759a.d., shows an original combination of Romanesque, it was rebuilt between the XI and XIII centuries and Baroque styles. It features a beautiful portal at the entrance made of white marble with its architraves, lintels and arch in bas-relief, it was made by Bernardino Rodari and dates back to 1508, inside you can see a large wooden altar from 1609.
The Church of Santa Maria is made up of three churches from different periods: the baptistery, the church and the Oratory.
The baptistery, which was the baptismal place of the pieve, dates back to 824a.d. and has an octagonal outer shape, it was built on the remains of a pre-existing circular font from the early Middle Ages; the late fifteenth century frescoes on the interior walls belong to the Renaissance period and can be attributed to Giovannino da Sondalo.
The circular baptismal font is one of the few remaining in Italy today.
The Church of Santa Maria, already documented in 1452 has changed over time: its present appearance dates back to the nineteenth century and has only one nave with a barrel vaulted ceiling, its floors are made from local stone, and a wooden painted altarpiece by Malacrida from Como dating back to 1489.
Going through a vaulted room that once was used for public transit, you enter the seventeenth-century Oratory of San Carlo Borromeo, where there was the confraternity of the Disciplini.
Note the beautiful entrance portal which leads you into the churchyard of the baptistery with its wrought iron grating (1757).
From the centre of the square you can see chimneys and elaborate Renaissance graffiti, which bear witness to the richness of the lives that took place behind the façades of these residences that belonged to the Venosta family and other noble families, such as the Venosta, Lavizzari, Foppolo, Quadrio-Venosta, Franzini and Lavizzari-Landriani palaces.
A description of the most interesting palace, Palazzo Landriani (XVII-XVIII century), forms together with the prospectus of the Church of Santa Maria and with other buildings, an unbroken curtain which includes two late Renaissance portals and a simple stone façade.
Palazzo Lavizzari develops around a courtyard and consists of two buildings both dating back to the sixteenth century, attributed to the two families that had in succession ownership of the building.
Inside there is a living room with a coffered ceiling, embellished with coats of arms, and a fireplace decorated by Cipriano Valorsa, who was one of the protagonists of Valtellina painting in the second half of the sixteenth century; also of interest is the fifteenth-century hall with its renaissance friezes and baroque decorations.
Palazzo Quadrio is from the Renaissance period, on its façade there are monochrome frescoes depicting mythological scenes, and windows framed in green stone dating back to 1564.
Casa Foppoli, also from the Renaissance period, faces Via Dante, it has the same particular green stone framed elements. The soon to be restored Town Hall has the same characteristics and a wrought iron balcony, and Palazzo Venosta that houses a porticoed courtyard with columns, an open gallery and, inside, a valuable stùa (a room where timber was stored), preserves between two wooden doors, a fresco attributed to Giovanni da Sondalo (XV century) depicting the Madonna del Latte.
Palazzo Lazzarini dates back to the XIV-XVI century and stands on the fortified complex of Pedenale. The twelfth-century Pedenale tower was partly dismantled by the Grisons in 1526 was rebuilt by adding Ghibelline crenellations. Originally it was part of an imposing castle, you can see this thanks to what remains of the walls.
Other religious buildings to be seen here are the Church of Sant’Abbondio in the Vione quarter; it was built between the XV and XVI century, with a Romanesque bell tower and beautiful frescoes in the bowl-shaped apsidal vault that dates back to 1587 and was attributed to Cipriano Valorsa, considered the Raffaello of Valtellina; the Church of San Matteo, in the quarter of the same name, was built in 1667 and has been recently restored, is placed along the road leading to the Mortirolo pass, perhaps it is the place of prayers of a cyclist who remembers the unfortunate tale of Marco Pantani.

Local Products
Organic apples from Valtellina, cheese such as “casera” and “bitto”, and bresaola (dried salted beef) that today is produced with imported beef from Brazil. Don’t forget to try the jam, fruit and honey.
Local dishes
working in progress