Grotto Eremo S. Nicolao (Somazzo)

At 700 m above sea level on Mount Stella, which dominates the northern part of the village with its fearsome overhangs, and above the cellars carved partly into the rock rises the small church commonly known as San Nicolao, dedicated to the liberating virgin and St. Nicholas of Bari.

Built together with the tower in 1413 by Count Lotteria Rusca lord of Como and Mendrisio, the little church was enlarged and modified in the 17th century. It was also restored in the early 17th century and later they brought the building to its present state during the 1999 restorations.

In those years a votive fresco resurfaced on the high altar, fragmentarily depicting a female figure, a saint perhaps, a martyr dressed in white and in the act of blessing.

The tower called TURETA was razed in the 20th century to build a modern tower on top of it, a balcony offering a beautiful view of the plain. In 1837 cremation tombs, later believed to be Gallic Roman, were found around the Turetta.

The enchanting place, suffused with silence, soon attracted friars of the third order of St. Francis (the hermits) who built a hermitage next to the small church that lasted until the late 1800s.
The hermit was a sympathetic presence throughout our village, a few times during the year, at set times he would come down to the plan for the usual quest. Everyone respected and revered him. The appointment of hermits was always taken care of by the confraternity of St. Mary the Liberator of which there are records from 1606.