SHARRYLAND
Where is
What it is and where it is
San Pietro in Tirolo is nestled among apple orchards, forests and vineyards, between Thurnstein Castle and Tyrol Castle, near Merano. Going there on foot, in my opinion, is the best choice to experience and breathe in the landscape in which it is nestled. The last part of the trail is even a forest path punctuated by the stages of the Stations of the Cross that ends at the edge of an apple orchard. It is there that you come out onto the road, facing a boundary wall interrupted by a wrought-iron gate. Inside, a small cemetery and a small church, snow-white, but decorated here and there with ancient frescoes... it looks like something out of a fairy tale.
Why it is special
Looking at it from the roadside, one is enchanted: beyond the fence, graves sprout from the lawn and are covered by lovingly tended flowers. Immediately behind, it is the polygonal apse and the bell tower sprouting from the center of the nave that, with their squat, outspoken volumes, hold sway. The eye then rests on the Gothic frescoes, which, though time-tested, tell evocative stories and accompany us down the driveway to the façade, where the feeling of having happened upon a tale returns. The off-center portal welcomes us inside: valuable Romanesque and Gothic frescoes are kept here.
Not to be missed
The context in which the little church is set contributes to the enchanted atmosphere we feel. If we are feeling energetic, the very one in which we find ourselves is a perfect starting point for hikes through the Texel Group Nature Park, to put our hiking skills to the test. Or, if we want something more leisurely, we can choose walks, such as the one along the Lagundo Waalweg, or the Culture Trail, or even reach Tirolo via a path that takes about 30 minutes. In short, there is something for everyone!
A bit of history
The church stands in the district of St. Peter in Tirol, also known under the historical name of Kronsbichl, which has been inhabited for a very long time. According to popular tradition, one of the oldest baptismal churches in the area stood at this vantage point. The present structure rests on a pre-Romanesque layout and is in the Lombard-Carolingian Romanesque style. Since 1287 it has been under the patronage of the Cistercian monastery of Stams in the Upper Inn Valley.
Curiosities
Like all very old places, St. Peter's Church has seen legends flourish around its construction. According to local folklore, it was allegedly built by a dwarf people. Other versions speak instead of gnomes, as opposed to the giants who lived in Castle Tyrol.
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