St. Maurice Church in Sella

At a sunny slope in the heart of the vineyards of the hamlet of Sella (Söll) there's the little St. Maurice Church - this area was already settled in Roman times. The origins of the church date back to the time around 1200 AD, whereas in 1380 it was rebuilt in early Gothic style and painted with frescoes, depicting for instance a stoat pattern and the fight of St. Maurice. The frescoes showing his death, however, could not be saved. The fresco cycles were completed in the 15th century, when the St. Maurice Church was reconstructed and enlarged. The wall paintings of that period of time - on the west wall for instance - are in a better state of conservation.

The foundations of the church and its steeple date back to the Romanesque period, whereas in the inside it represents different construction styles: the left nave is realised in Romanesque style, the side nave in Gothic style. The high altar in the side nave dates back to the time around 1520 and features beautiful panels showing Adam and Eve, presumably created by Bartlmä Dill Riemenschneider, an important German Renaissance painter, which operated also in South Tyrol.

By the way: St. Maurice, mainly depicted with a sword, is the patron saint of armed forces and armourer, referring also to the building period of the church during the Crusades. And how to reach the St. Maurice Church in Sella - "Kirche St. Mauritius in Söll" in German, "Chiesa di San Maurizio a Sella" in Italian? It is located in Sella, north of Termeno, parking space and bus stop are available. Also a panorama path leads From Termeno to Sella (1.5 hours walking time).