The Oratory of Santa Rita or little church of Santa Rita or old church of Santa Rita or little church in via Filzi is a Catholic place of worship built in 1964 in Viareggio. Although still owned by the Catholic parish, since 2014 it has been in use by the Romanian Orthodox church, under the name of Parohia Ortodoxă Română Sfântul Proroc Isaia (Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Prophet Isaiah).
History
The former airfield district had a rapid development after the war. In the 1950s, lacking a church, the Catholic community gathered in a house in via Toti. In 1964 the church was then built which, in 1985 became the seat of the parish, detaching itself from that of Sant’Antonio. In 1997, with the construction of the new church, it became a subsidiary church. The roof was redone in 2010.
Description
The church consists of a single rectangular hall, facing north-east, with a small aisle. The structure is in reinforced concrete and consists of five bays, formed by pillars connected by beams. The cantoria, which is cantilevered on the facade, is sheltered by a large eaves that overlooks the access portal. The building is at an angle in a block, therefore only the facade and the left side are free. The church has a small belfry in reinforced concrete. Inside there are numerous paintings, including several icons, a Via Crucis and a Via Lucis created by the local UCAI section and a Christ of Divine Mercy.
