Asti Langa

The Moscato Chapel

in Coazzolo

Introduction
History
The Exterior
Tremlett's footsteps in the Langhe
Map

Address

Chiesetta della Beata Maria Vergine del Carmine, Coazzolo, AT, Italia — Go to map ↝

Business Hours

Always open

Contacts

Website Email Tel: +39 0141 878930

Closing Day

Holidays

The Chiesetta della Beata Maria Vergine del Carmine in Coazzolo, known as La Cappella del Moscato, is an extraordinary example of how contemporary art can enhance and reinterpret historical heritage and landscape.

The structure has experienced a second life thanks to the intervention of British artist David Tremlett, famous for his “wall drawing” technique.

This artistic transformation has made the little church a tourist attraction and a reference point for contemporary art in the Langhe and Monferrato.

A visit to the Chiesetta del Moscato is an unmissable experience, able to excite and leave an indelible memory. It can be reached through beautiful and evocative itineraries by mountain bike, E-bike or on foot, surrounded by vineyards.

1. The Vineyard of Giant Pencils

From the Chiesetta del Moscato, a glimpse of the evocative vineyard of the ‘giant pencils’, an original artistic installation that makes for a unique experience among the Langhe vineyards

2. Coazzolo

A small municipality of just 300 inhabitants with its village, castle and a panorama that tells stories of hills and centuries-old traditions

3. Harmony between art and nature

A work of art that breathes the landscape: the Chiesetta del Moscato, reinterpreted by David Tremlett, transforms lines and colours into a visual tale that dialogues with the timeless beauty of the hills

TheHistory

The Moscato Chapel

The rebirth of a forgotten building, a place of worship for the community in its past, the decline and the recent intervention that restored it to its splendor with a modern twist

The Little Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel was built in the late 17th century and, for more than three centuries, served as a place of worship for the local community.

However, with the passage of time and the gradual depopulation of the countryside, the building was abandoned and left in a state of disrepair.

In 2017, thanks to the vision of Coazzolo's then councillor for culture, Silvano Stella, it was decided to recover the little church through an intervention that combined restoration and contemporary art.

The choice fell on David Tremlett, an artist already known for his work in the Barolo Chapel in La Morra.

Tremlett accepted the challenge, seeing in the little church a unique opportunity to create a link between his art and the surrounding landscape.

The Exterior

A work that is an integral part of the natural landscape

The geometric shapes, simple and strict lines, create a visual effect that changes with the seasons, making the little church a dynamic and living element in the landscape.

Tremlett chose a color palette inspired by the land: sienna is used for the main body of the chapel and echoes the warm tones of the Langhe soil.

The deep yellow, applied to the porticoed atrium, symbolizes the light and energy that characterizes the sunflower and wheat fields, while the olive green found in the basement and sacristy is a tribute to the local vineyards and vegetation.

Visit Duration

—

Ticket Price

Free Entrance

Audioguides

Not available

Guided Visit

Not available

1. A dialogue between art and landscape

One of the most fascinating features of Tremlett’s work is his ability to integrate contemporary art in a rural context

2. A natural painting

From the patio of the Chiesetta del Moscato, the gaze opens onto a panorama that intertwines hills, vineyards and sky, framed by the geometries

Tremlett's footsteps in the Langhe

A journey between contemporary art and historical heritage

Tremlett’s intervention in Coazzolo is not an isolated episode. The British artist has already made his mark in the Langhe with other significant works.

The Barolo Chapel was created in 1999 together with Sol LeWitt and has become an icon of the region. Located in La Morra, it is famous for its vibrant exterior decorations.

Then there is the 17th-century chapel of the Relais San Maurizio in Santo Stefano Belbo, where Tremlett decorated the interior, accessible to guests of the relais.

Finally, the former oratory of San Michele, in the historic center of Serravalle Langhe, which has been transformed into a place of contemporary art thanks to the artistic intervention.

The works testify to the artist’s strong bond with the territory and his ability to enhance the historical heritage through the language of art.

The master of natural pigments

David Tremlett is famous for his use of natural pigments and hand techniques to create works on walls and architectural surfaces.

His technique, called "wall drawing," involves applying colors directly to the surface, using materials such as wax crayon and dry pigment.

After studying sculpture at the Royal College of Art in London, Tremlett undertook numerous trips to Australia, Africa, Iran, Afghanistan and India, coming into contact with large polychrome surfaces covered by hand using pigments; he thus discovered colored powders, which were perfect for his needs as a traveler.

1. David Tremlett

Born in 1945 in Cornwall, he is known for his wall drawings made with natural pigments applied by hand on architectural surfaces

2. The Barolo Chapel

Originally built in 1914 as a refuge for winegrowers, the chapel has been transformed into a symbol of creativity and innovation, with bright colours and geometric shapes that contrast harmoniously with the surrounding landscape