A steep path on Monte Avena leads up to a little church documented as early as the 16th century and dedicated to San Tiburzio and Santa Susanna, who are said to have fled from the Feltre area to escape persecution against Christians, or to have come here for a break and then been persecuted. According to one of the local legends regarding the little church, the building was constructed by a hermit, and the devil, in order to get rid of him, threw a huge boulder at him, which, the story goes, fell just a few steps from the church, thanks to the intervention of Santa Susanna, forming a large crater that still exists today. The rainwater collected here was once said to work miracles and to have the power to cure whooping cough, and indeed the festival of the sanctuary is held on 11 August, when the parishioners of Facen come up to the church on foot to ask for protection from the 'pagan cough’ (or 'nasty cough’) – whooping cough – as well as for new babies and their mothers. The site, which looks onto the valley below, is especially interesting as a result of its position, from which can be seen both the castle of Feltre and the sanctuary of San Vittore, i.e. the mediaeval structures that were most important for the defence of the town. The Santa Susanna site itself may even have been part of the defence system, as a lookout position, and may have acquired its religious importance later. The presence of the basin, which the legend attributes to the crater formed by the rock cast by the devil, may indeed have a different explanation: since it is fairly shallow and sits on the overhang, clearly visible from all four corners of the valley, it is possible that it might have been a brazier lit to warn of impending danger. The church has a single chamber, preceded by a small nineteenth-century pronaos supported by four squat Doric columns; on the facade, three small niches above the portal and the windows on either side contain 20th century paintings depicting the saints the church is dedicated to, and a small landscape. To the right of the entrance is a stone holy water font.

From Feltre, continue on towards Pedavena, past Villa Pasole Berton (see file 25 ASA/AI) and the little church of S. Osvaldo, and follow the signs for Facen. A path now marked as the first stage on the “Cammino delle Dolomiti” walking route leads to Case Aste and from there to the little church.

ACCESSIBLE: outside only
MUNICIPALITY: Pedavena
PLACE: Facen
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: X 1720473 – Y 5101873
PROVINCE: Belluno

FILE COMPILED BY: Barp

The little church is part of the “Little piedmont churches” route created by the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.

L. Bortolas, T. Conte, Chiesette Pedemontane. Santi guerrieri e Santi guaritori nelle Dolomiti Bellunesi, Verona, 1999