The Riva oratory appears in the investiture of the Montecuccoli family of 1212. At the time, it formed part of a castle which was continuously subject to disputes and fighting, and which was finally razed to the ground in 1532 by the ducal army following a popular rebellion against the Montecuccoli and Este families. Two years earlier, a bell tower had been built on the foundations of the demolished tower.
The oratory, restored and decorated with frescoes following the fire of 1428, appears to be the only building spared from this punitive campaign. The frescoes in the presbytery depict Christ on the cross in the centre, with Mary and St. John standing to either side, and crenellated city walls in the background; images of St. John the Baptist and St. Sebastian can be seen to either side of the central panel.
The vault features Christ Pantocrator and the symbols of the four evangelists. St Christopher carrying Christ on his shoulders, a Madonna and Child with female saint, and an Enthroned Virgin Mary are depicted on the side walls.
To visit it, you can ask one of the villagers for the keys!
