| Wilten´s Parish and Pilgrimage Church, the Wilten Basilica, is one of the most splendid churches in the Tyrol. As legend has it, already Roman Legionnaires were worshipping a Madonna Painting at this site.
In 1259 the church was already widely known as a place of pilgrimage to this famous painting of Our Lady. Soon the church became too small and was therefore several times reconstructed.
Between 1751 and 1755 the church was finally torn down and completely new constructed by one of their priests Franz de Paula Penz, plans coming from Josef Stapf the most prominent bavarian planner at that time.
The interior of the church is a kaleidoscope of soft colors, mixed with glorious gold and lavish rococo stucco by Franz Xaver Feichtmayr and Anton Gigl. The elaborate ceiling murals are by Matthaus Gunther and depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The sandstone figure depicting Our Lady Under the Four Columns on the high altar has been the subject of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. |