Maria-Trost-Church (Meran)
| Maria consolation | |
|---|---|
 Maria-Trost-Kirche in Untermais |
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| Construction time: | approx. 1200 - approx. 1250 |
| Location: | 46 ° 39 '45.7 " N , 11 ° 9' 47.5" E |
| Address: | Rome street Merano Italy |
| Purpose: | Roman Catholic Church |
| Local community: | Meran |
| Parish: | Holy Spirit |
The Maria-Trost-Kirche is a Catholic church in Untermais , a district of Merano . The fresco cycles preserved on the church walls are of particular importance .
history
Probably the oldest church in town. It is of Romanesque origin and dates from between the 12th and 13th centuries. However, it is likely the result of the rebuilding of a pre-existing small church from the 8th century. The first written evidence about the church does not exist until 1273, when Meinhard II transferred the church, along with other goods, to the Stams monastery as part of the founding equipment.
Because of its proximity to the Naif brook, which at that time was not yet blocked, the church was repeatedly damaged and repaired. In the 15th century the apse was renewed in Gothic style. In 1624 the roof of the nave was raised and the barrel vault was given a fresco. In the 18th century the gallery for the organ was built, in 1824 the vestibule was built and in 1889 the baroque gable of the tower was replaced by the current octagonal gable.
Frescoes
Of particular importance are the Romanesque and Gothic fresco cycles that can be found on the inner and outer walls of the church.
Inside the church there are Romanesque frescoes on the north wall, which date back to the 12th century. They were discovered in 1967 during a restoration. They show Byzantine influences and are probably the work of an artist from Veneto . Scenes from the life of Mary are depicted, including a rare Dormitio Mariae (Death of Mary).
On the other hand, the fresco depicting the birth of Jesus dates from the 14th century .
The vault is adorned with a baroque fresco by JA Puellacher, which depicts the assumption of Mary into heaven .
The cycle of frescoes on the outer wall represents the high point of painting in the 14th century in the Merano area and shows clear Giotto's influence . Different scenes are shown. At the top you can see five saints (in the center St. Sigmund, on the right St. Catherine and Dorothea, on the left St. Antonius and St. Leonhard). The archangel Michael is depicted in the middle, a crucifixion on the right and St. Nikolaus (patron of the city of Merano) and St. Erasmus. Among them was also a fresco depicting the "triumph of death". However, it was badly damaged by the tombstones of the cemetery that used to surround the church.
graveyard
The tombstones of the following personalities have been preserved in the cemetery surrounding the church:
Ferdinand Karl of Austria (1868–1915) and his wife were buried in the church.
literature
- Bertagnolli, Paul: Archeology of the art epochs: new publication of the South Tyrolean cultural institute: “The Church of Maria Trost in Untermais” (= Der Schlern . Year 81, No. 4). Athesia, Bozen 2007.
- Conta, Gioia: Bolzano, Media Val d'Adige, Merano (= I Luoghi dell'Arte . Band 1 ). Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Bozen 1998, ISBN 88-85129-25-0 .
- Theil, Edmund: Maria-Trost-Kirche in Untermais / Meran . Athesia, Bozen 1975.
Web links
- Entry in the monument browser on the website of the South Tyrolean Monuments Office