The Cave Church
(La Guieiza 'd la tana)
Tradition has it that the site in times of pogroms against the Waldensians served as a secret refuge and worship place, guieiza meaning 'church' in dialect.
The opening to the guieiza, cut by Paolo Paschetto, 20th century
Though wide, the entrance is just several hand-lengths in depth, all jagged edges, permitting only a labored entry in distorted positions ...
Long and narrow, a great shaft in the rock, the interior can accommodate some 200 persons. It is illuminated by three upper apertures which admit only enough light as to have the rocky depths resemble a castle's subterranean dungeon whose prisoners were fed from breaks in the vault above.
A yellowish, brooding light, seemingly more sinister than darkness itself, imparts to persons within a pallid visage as of fright. ...
It all must have moved deeply the white-bearded pastor who, from that pulpit of stone, a torch in hand, preached in guarded voice to a people who, bent over in a kind of natural crypt, could well imagine having worked their way inside for the last time. While the pastor preached or the faithful sang psalms in muted voices, youth stood watch on nearby heights. Upon any distant sign of approaching hostile force, signal was given. Below, in the cavern, the silence of the tomb stole over all. Until the threat had passed, embraces and prayers took over. When spies and police dogs headed the soldiers in the right direction, sentinels raced to bring the terrifying news, mothers pressed children to their breasts, fathers blessed their families, and friends exchanged farewells. Then, motionless, wordless, scarcely breathing, all strained their ears and commended their spirits to God. Oh! The frenzy at the entrance, the ultimatums to come out! And the sound of timber and dry leaves at the aperture! And the first whiffs of smoke stealing in, accompanied outside by bursts of cursing and contemptuous laughing ...»
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