Church of Our Lady of Hope

Tradition has the little church of Our Lady of Hope, built on a large boulder, is older than the parish church and was built as a "votive offering" and as protection from falling stones from the steep bank above.

The church is one of the most characteristic monuments in Valmalenco, where a late 18th-century painting depicting the Madonna and Child and a young girl with flowers entwined in her hair is preserved.

Toward the valley, where the boulder has an indentation, a small chapel of the Madonna was built, designed by engineer Enrico Vitali.

In Malenca tradition, the church of Our Lady of Hope is ironically called the "Chiesina del mal di denti" (little church of toothache): in fact, it is said that going around this little church passes the toothache. By this is implied that all other evil ceases, since it is not possible to go around the high boulder on which the church is erected, without falling with definitive consequences!

Source - Valmalenco Ecomuseum