The Franciscan Church in Bolzano is the Gothic church of a friary that has stood on the northern edge of the old town since the 13th century. Rebuilt after bombing in 1944, it still holds one of South Tyrol's finest late Gothic carved altars, a Nativity by Hans Klocker from around 1500, and a quiet cloister with fragments of frescoes from the school of Giotto.
The Franciscan Church at a glance
- Where: Via dei Francescani / Franziskanerstraße 1, on the northern edge of Bolzano's old town, a few minutes from Piazza delle Erbe.
- Built: friars settled here from 1221; the church was consecrated in 1348 and its tower finished in 1376; it was rebuilt after it was destroyed by bombing in 1944.
- By: the winged Nativity altar is by Hans Klocker of Brixen; the modern choir windows are by the Innsbruck artist Josef Widmoser.
- What it is today: a working church and Franciscan friary, part of the Austrian Franciscan province since 2007.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes for the church and the cloister.
Seven centuries of friars at the city gate
Franciscan friars passed through Bolzano in 1221 on their way north and were allowed to preach here; some stayed, and by 1237 there was a Franciscan house by the city walls. The first friary burned in 1291, the church was ready to be consecrated in 1348, and in the mid-15th century its flat roof was replaced by the rib vault you see today. Over the centuries the friars also ran the town's grammar school, founded under Empress Maria Theresa. During the Bavarian occupation the friary was dissolved in 1810 and used as barracks, but the friars returned a few years later.
On 29 March 1944 Allied bombs destroyed the church, and it was rebuilt after the war. The post-war years left a darker mark: South Tyrol was a route for Nazis escaping Europe, and the friary was among the places that sheltered some of them, including Adolf Eichmann before his flight to South America. In 2007, for historical reasons, the friary was transferred to the Franciscans' Austrian province.
What to look for
- The Klocker altar in the choir: a painted and gilded winged altar whose open centre shows the birth of Christ, with scenes from Christ's later life on the wings.
- The three tall stained-glass windows in the apse by Josef Widmoser, with scenes from the life of Saint Francis, including his preaching to the birds.
- The 44-metre bell tower from 1376, topped by an octagonal pyramid above a ring of small sound openings.
- The pink sandstone of the Gothic nave and choir, and the rib vault on octagonal pillars.
- The cloister, with fragments of 14th-century frescoes in the manner of Giotto and later paintings from the 17th century.
A legend of the young Francis
A local legend says that Francis of Assisi came to Bolzano as a young man with his father, the cloth merchant Pietro Bernardone, and that the bells rang by themselves when he heard Mass in the small chapel of Saints Ingenuin and Erhard, which is now part of the friary. There is no evidence for the visit, but the story shows how proud the town has long been of its Franciscans.
Tips for your visit
- This is an active church and friary: visit outside services, keep quiet in the cloister and dress respectfully.
- Take your time at the Klocker altar: the Nativity is full of small details from the Gospel story that are easy to miss at a glance.
- Come on a bright day, when sunlight through the choir windows brings out the colours of the Widmoser glass.
- Combine it with the Ötzi museum and Piazza delle Erbe, both a short walk away.
Nearby
- South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology: home of Ötzi, the Iceman who lived about 5,300 years ago, a few minutes' walk away.
- Piazza delle Erbe: the fruit and vegetable market with its Neptune fountain, at the top of the old town.
- Via dei Portici: Bolzano's arcaded main street, lined with merchants' houses.
- Bolzano Cathedral: the Gothic cathedral with its patterned tile roof, at the southern end of the old town.
See Bolzano with World City Trail
Our Bolzano scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 33 minutes of walking. Among the places it includes are Bolzano Cathedral and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology with Ötzi.
For people who prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Bolzano.
Play the Bolzano scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Bolzano →
Play the outdoor escape game in Bolzano →
Facts checked in October 2026.