Chiesa dei Domenicani

The Chiesa dei Domenicani/Dominikanekirche.

Fresco of the Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew.

The Chiesa dei Domenicani (German: Dominikanerkirche) is a medieval church in Bolzano/Bozen, South Tyrol, northern Italy.

The church, one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in Tyrol, was founded by the Dominicans after their arrival, in a location that was then outside the city's walls. The construction ended in 1272 but was expanded in the following century. The quarter which originated from the monks' church and convent became known as Neustadt ("New City"); their cultivated lands were nationalized by the Fascist regime in 1930s. The church was damaged by bombs during World War II.

The church has a single hall two rows of octagonal pillars. The presbytery, separated a five-span bridge, was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century; in 1458-1468 the church and the cloister received new vaults in Gothic style. The four side chapels, dating from the 14th century, were damaged in World War II. The interior is home to several frescoes, including a Madonna and Saints by Haus Stotzinger from Ulm (1404), a Madonna Enthroned by a Veronese school artist (1379) and Four Saints by an artist from Martino da Verona's school (1400). The Chapel of St. John, finally, houses a fresco cycle by a Giottoesque painter, including a scene with one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and, below, the sinners. At the end of the apse is an altarpiece by Guercino (1655).

The cloister, first mentioned in a 1308 document, has wall paintings depicting the Life of Jesus and Mary, executed by Friedrich Pacher around 1496. Other Giottoesque frescoes from the 14th century can be seen in the St. Caterine Chapel which is accessed through the cloister.

Sources

• Pan, Alexandra (1987). Der Freskenzyklus im Dominikaner-Kreuzgang zu Bozen. Vienna.

External links

• Page at Bolzano.net (Italian) (German) (English)

Coordinates: 46°29′51″N 11°21′06″E / 46.49750°N 11.35167°E