Gries Church, Bolzano, Italy

The Old Parish Church of Gries contains several precious works of art. Some parts of the original Romanesque church are still preserved, as parts of the walls of the tower and nave. There has probably been a settlement in the area since Roman times.

The Gothic, polygonal choir was built in 1414. During the course of the 16th century the Romanesque church was rebuilt. Star-shaped vaults were inserted in the nave, and in 1529 a church porch, also with star-shaped vaults, were built. The tower also received its pointed spire at this time. The chapel dedicated to Saint Erasmus was finished already in 1519.

In 1788, the church lost its position as parish church of Gries. The Muri-Gries Abbey from now on instead served this purpose. The church is surrounded by the old cemetery of the Parish, which since 1922 is closed for new graves. Among the people buried here, Austrian admiral and explorer Bernhard von Wüllerstorf-Urbair is among the more well-known.

The old parish church contains two pieces of art of high value. The one is a Romanesque crucifix, dating from circa 1200 and probably made abroad (possibly northern France)

The other is a late Gothic, carved wooden altarpiece made by Michael Pacher. Pacher made the altarpiece between 1471 and 1475. During the Baroque era, the altarpiece was considered out of date and replaced with a Baroque high altar. Pacher's altarpiece was placed in the St. Erasmus' chapel of the church. It has remained there since; it has however lost its wings, its predella, its top and other details.

References:

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Religious sites in Italy

User Reviews

Kamila Świerska (2 years ago)
We only saw it from outside. Located close to the city garden/park when you can go for a hike.

Walter Egger (3 years ago)
Old Gries parish church. Michael Pacher Altar, a Gothic masterpiece. Absolutely worth seeing

Ambrogio Perego (5 years ago)
Unfortunately the church is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 12pm, so I was unable to visit the interior. It has an imposing bell tower and is surrounded by a cemetery in the classic South Tyrolean style.

Emanuela Salvatore (6 years ago)
Che meraviglia! In stile gotico (inizi del '400), il campanile ha un'alta cuspide in muratura. L' eccezionale interesse artistico di questa chiesa è dovuto a due opere di altissimo pregio: l'altare di Michael Pacher (1471/75), capolavoro assoluto dell'arte gotica degli altari lignei a scrigno, ed un Crocifisso ligneo romanico del principio del '200. La chiesa è contornata da un piccolo cimitero.

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