Chiesa di Santa Maria Antica

At the centre of Madonna di Campiglio, the Church of Santa Maria Antica preserves the memory of the medieval hospice sanctuary that preceded the resort. The present Neo-Gothic church was built in 1894–95, with its late-Gothic winged altar, ancient crucifix and imperial-funded interior decorations.

Why it matters

The church replaced the priory church attached to a hospice for travellers on the mountain route. Local tradition dates the hospice foundation to 1190. Its successor links the resort’s nineteenth-century development with the older religious history of the mountain pass and preserves artworks from the earlier sanctuary.

What to notice

The church’s granite exterior and Tyrolean Neo-Gothic design contrast with the carved stone-pine panelling and tonalite floor inside. The late-Gothic winged altarpiece and an ancient crucifix were carried forward from the earlier sanctuary. The interior also includes decorations financed by the Austrian imperial family and the tomb of Franz Joseph Österreicher, who initiated the rebuilding.

Context and history

The hospice church served the surrounding communities for centuries before the religious community was suppressed in 1515. In the nineteenth century, Franz Joseph Österreicher obtained permission to clear the decayed complex for a new hotel on condition that he rebuild the church. The first stone was laid in 1894, and the new building was blessed on 15 August 1895. It served as the resort’s main church until 1972, when Santa Maria Nuova was completed nearby. A restoration followed in 1994.