Parish Church of Diémoz
Resort: Verrayes
Rules for visitors
Accessibility:
The church overlooks an open square that allows easy access to the building. Inside, a ramp is provided to overcome the single step leading to the central nave.
Outside, there is an inclined visual and tactile information panel, positioned at a height that makes it easy to consult, including for wheelchair users, providing information about the surrounding area and the artworks found in the church.
The church overlooks an open square that allows easy access to the building. Inside, a ramp is provided to overcome the single step leading to the central nave.
Outside, there is an inclined visual and tactile information panel, positioned at a height that makes it easy to consult, including for wheelchair users, providing information about the surrounding area and the artworks found in the church.
Accessibility assessment carried out in 2026 as part of the project IN3ViE: Inclusive Travel, Living Emotions between Valais, Aosta Valley and Piedmont – INTERREG VI-A 2021/2027 Cooperation Programme.
Located in the hamlet of Diémoz, in the municipality of Verrayes, the parish church is one of the area's main religious and historical landmarks. The earliest documentary evidence of the parish dates back to 1207, when a papal bull issued by Pope Innocent III listed it among the dependencies of the Provostship of Verrès.
Little is known about the original medieval building. By the end of the eighteenth century, the church was in poor condition and underwent major reconstruction. The works, begun in the late eighteenth century and completed in the early nineteenth century, led to the rebuilding of the church while preserving some elements of the earlier structure.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, population growth made a further extension necessary. Between 1904 and 1907, the church was enlarged, the façade and portico were replaced, and the bell tower was completely rebuilt, giving the building the appearance it retains today.
The interior is distinguished by the rich decorations created by the Geninazzi brothers from Melide and by the works of the painter Giuseppe Stornone of Ivrea. The pendentives of the dome depict important figures of Aosta Valley spirituality, including Blessed Innocent V, Saint Anselm, Saint Jocondus, and Blessed Vuillerme de Léaval. The same artist also painted the main altarpiece, portraying Saint Martin alongside Saints Gratus and Jocondus.
Particularly noteworthy is the nearby parish house. Its façade preserves a fresco depicting a knight, attributed to Giacomino da Ivrea, one of the most important painters active in the Aosta Valley during the fifteenth century.
Today, the church of Diémoz stands as a significant testimony to the religious and artistic history of the Verrayes hillside. Its successive architectural transformations and valuable artworks make it an interesting cultural destination along the ancient routes that cross the area, including the Via Francigena.
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.