Alva Church, Medieval church in Gotland Municipality, Sweden
Alva Church is a stone church building in Gotland featuring a late Romanesque choir with an apse and a wide unfinished tower. The different construction phases are visible in the choir, which was built first, while the nave and tower were added later.
Construction of the church began in the late 12th century with the choir and apse, followed by the nave and tower in subsequent decades. This building approach was typical for churches developed over extended periods.
The church displays medieval wall paintings and holds a notable 12th-century baptismal font created by a significant Romanesque sculptor. These artworks offer insight into the religious art that mattered to the community at that time.
The church is located on Gotland and is part of a parish that includes nearby communities. Visiting is possible, and a cemetery is situated on the grounds as part of the overall complex.
The southern portal shows traces of unusual construction methods, while the Romanesque choir portal features carved reliefs by a notable artist. These details reveal the handiwork of individual masters who worked on different parts of the building.
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