St. Peter ob Gratsch, Religious monument near Castel Tirolo, Italy

St. Peter ob Gratsch is a medieval church located near Merano in South Tyrol. The building features stone walls, a tile roof, and displays old frescoes on its interior walls that are still visible today.

The present church was built in the 8th or early 9th century on the site of two earlier structures, the oldest a late antique hall from the 5th century. It was first documented in 1178 as a private church of the noble lords of Wangen, with Arnoldus named as first plebanus. In 1287 Count Meinhard II transferred the patronage to Stams Abbey, and by 1459 it was recorded as an independent parish.

The church's name appears in a 1178 deed as "plebanus ad S. Petrum", with Arnoldus as its first recorded priest. For 400 years the people of Gratsch walked the Stations of the Cross up to St. Peter to baptise their children and bury their dead, since St. Magdalena in Gratsch was its only filial church.

The church is accessible via walking trails from Merano and is situated in a scenic area. It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes since the walking paths can be steep or uneven in places.

Under the north aisle lies a late antique tomb, reached through a wooden hatch; the aisle itself began as a separate burial chapel and was joined to the church only when the dividing wall was broken through. Outside, the south wall carries frescoes of Christ between Saints Peter and Paul (around 1100), Saint Catherine (around 1380), Saint Michael (13th century) and Saint Barbara (around 1400).