Cathedral and churches

On the south of Walther Square lies the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. It is an interesting late Gothic church, almost totally demolished during the World War II. Looking at historical pictures, it is quite impressive to see in what state it was reduced with the roof and part of the perimetral walls completely collapsed. Still nowadays, it’s possible to notice the different pigmentation of the stones in the exterior, differentiating the bottom part that survived the impact of the bombing from the top one that was later rebuilt. During the reconstruction work carried out after 1948, the remains of the foundations of three previous churches were found in the same place, the oldest one dating back to the 6th century AD. Inside the Cathedral of Bolzano, it’s also possible to visit the collection of the treasury hosted in a small museum.
The other interesting churches to visit in Bolzano are related to monastic orders. The Dominican Church is another example of Gothic architecture in the area, located just 100 meters away from the main square and decorated with precious frescoes. The cloister annexed to the church is also worth a visit. Another temple not to be missed is the Franciscan church, which is known for its elaborated wooden altar.