Saint Stephen church, Church building in Carisolo, Italy
Saint Stephen Church stands on a rocky hilltop overlooking the Sarca River at the entrance to Val Genova near Carisolo. The building features Romanesque elements and houses several important frescoes that cover its interior walls.
An 8th-century chapel dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel originally stood at this site. It was later replaced by the Romanesque church that stands here today in the 13th or 14th century.
The southern wall features a Dance of Death fresco painted by Simone Baschenis in 1519, showing skeletons paired with figures from different social classes. This imagery reflects medieval beliefs about how death affects everyone equally.
The building sits on an elevated location with good visibility from the surrounding area. Visitors should note this is an active cemetery, so respectful behavior is expected at all times.
Three large wooden crosses stand outside the building and shape the appearance of the grounds. Beneath the frescoes are Gothic inscriptions that tell stories of Frankish kings who traveled through Val Rendena.
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