St. Magdalene, Baroque church in Villnöß, South Tyrol, Italy
St. Magdalene is a church in the hamlet of Santa Maddalena in Villnöß, South Tyrol. Its exterior is late Gothic, while the single-nave interior is Baroque with an asymmetrical ribbed vault. The bell tower survives from the earlier structure; the church was rebuilt in 1492 and restored in the 18th century.
The church was founded in 1394, with only the original tower surviving from that era. Major reconstruction in the 15th century transformed it into the mixed architectural style that remains today.
The choir vault holds frescoes painted in 1928 by Johann Peskoller, as named in the Italian source. The single nave is flanked by two side altars, one with a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and the other with Saint Anthony of Padua. The main altar carries a painting of Saint Mary Magdalene, flanked by four statues of Saint Peter, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Jerome.
The church sits away from vehicle access and requires a walk through the landscape to reach. Starting from the Putzen car park, allow about thirty minutes for the trek uphill to the church.
Every third year, pilgrims heading to Säben Monastery pass through here as part of a journey that dates back 500 years. This old pilgrimage route connects two religious sites and turns the church into a meaningful waypoint for travelers following this spiritual path.
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