The Church of the Franciscans, in via dei Francescani in Bolzano, was rebuilt in Gothic style following a fire in 1291 and is notable for its sobriety and spaciousness. With the adjoining cloister, it dates to the early 14th century and is one of the few churches of the time to faithfully reflect the dictates of Gothic architecture, with its upward, slender lines. The choir and the tower date to the 14th century; the vault to the mid-15th century.
Thanks to the light from a modern glass window, the well-lit choir features a wooden altar by Hans Klocker from around 1500 which is clearly visible, unencumbered by arches or a high altar. The altar was only repositioned here by the friars in the 19th century, having been banished to the attic for centuries. The walls are almost bare; one of the few frescoes, created around 1500, portrays an absolute rarity in the history of art, a university enclosed in a church.
IDM Film Fund & Commission — Alto Adige
Via del Macello, 73 — 39100 Bolzano
Phone: +39 0471 094 294
Email: luisa.giuliani@idm-suedtirol.com
