Temple of the Goddess Diana and now Chapel of Saint Lucia

The history of Diano d'Alba dates back to the Roman times, combined with the great era of Alba Pompeia.

Its most important historical moment dates back to the year 1000, the period in which the first nucleus of the castle was built which, originally, was intended as a defense garrison against Saracen raids.

Probably in the same period this cave dedicated to the goddess Diana was built along the Roman road Magistra Langarum which connected Alba and Liguria.

In 1860, during the construction of the new Alba-Bossolasco consortium road, its remains were found. In this ancient cave dug into the sandstone, half hidden by trees and bushes, a log used by hunters who gathered for hunting and sat on it was found.

The trunk, in reality, was an ancient wooden statue dedicated to the goddess Diana, which had severed arms, the quiver for arrows on its back, an animal near its feet and its severed head placed a little further on.

In 1863 the new provincial road was inaugurated, built right on the ancient Roman one where the temple of the goddess Diana stood.

The Vicar Episcopal said that it would be appropriate to dedicate the temple to a religious figure. But the liberal administration was strongly against it and decided to maintain the pagan name of the temple.

In 1870 the bishop Monsignor Eugenio Roberto Galletti intervened and ordered that the aforementioned temple, located at the entrance of a Christian town, be dedicated to a saint.

The old wooden statue of the goddess Diana was partially adapted by giving her a new look. The cleansed face simply resting against the interlocking trunk appeared graceful and pleasant like that of the Virgin Mary.

The temple was dedicated to Saint Lucia.

Despite the new dress, the free spirit of the goddess Diana continued to burn inside the statue. For many years, evil spirits and "masche" (Piedmontese witch) animated the place.

Every night the face of the statue detached itself from the body and walked free in the vegetation below to experience her true identity.

Every morning, however, the head dirty with grass and mud returned to her guise as the Holy Virgin.

The situation had become unbearable for the faithful and every day they made new complaints to the poor parish priest. Subsequently, the statue disappeared and the magical events that had defined the history of the magnificent temple of Saint Lucia ended. Having fallen into disuse during the 1900s, it once again come to the limelights thanks to the teacher Emma Berzia and doctor Marco Lanzetti who promoted and financed its conservative recovery.

It was inaugurated on December 16th, 2023