A bolt of lightning a miraculous event. This is the story of the Chiesa parrocchiale della Visitazione di Maria Vergine in Villastanza. A small village near Parabiago. This unassuming church holds a fascinating history. It stands as a testament to faith resilience and even a bit of luck.
The original church was small and old. It stood in a less central location. By the early 17th century it was inadequate. So in 1615 they began building a new church. Giovanni Angelo Crivelli designed this new structure. Funding issues caused delays. Work resumed in 1618. Finally in 1760 the facade was completed. The bell tower was finished two years earlier. A small cemetery stood beside it. It was active until 1788 when the last person was buried there.
In 1625 Cardinal Federico Borromeo elevated Villastanza to parish status. This separated it from Parabiago. The new parish encompassed about 400 souls. Inside the church is a chapel dedicated to the martyrs Saints Defendente and Onorato. Two anonymous paintings adorn this chapel. One shows Saint Apollonia. The other depicts The Adoration. Later Cerro Maggiore church sold them a marble altar in 1842. Five bells were purchased and added to the bell tower in 1864. The tower gained about 5 meters in height.
Then on May 31 1873 a remarkable event took place. Lightning struck the bell tower. It split the left side. The lightning entered the church through a window. It damaged the organ. It finally dissipated in a nearby house. Miraculously there were no injuries. A local painter Marco Corvini painted a picture to commemorate this event. He also painted another picture of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Between 1897 and 1898 the facade was rebuilt. Cardinal Ferrari consecrated the church on November 3 1898. This was almost three centuries after construction began. Sadly in December 2023 a fire gutted much of the church. This was an arson attack. The attack caused extensive damage. The nativity scene paintings and organ were destroyed. A fundraiser was held in April 2024 to help rebuild. The Chiesa parrocchiale della Visitazione di Maria Vergine continues to inspire hope and faith. It represents the enduring spirit of the people of Villastanza.