Chiesa di San Leonardo

The Church of San Leonardo stands on a terrace above the Bulla gorge. Its medieval origins and later Gothic and Baroque alterations make it a historic focal point of the hamlet, known also as Pufels or Bula.

Why it matters

The dedication to Saint Leonard connects the church with a devotional tradition associated with livestock. Its setting among the high settlements between Val Gardena and the Alpe di Siusi gives that tradition a local pastoral context.

What to notice

The Romanesque bell tower preserves evidence of the earlier building. The high altar belongs to the eighteenth century, while a painting of Saint Leonard is associated with the Tyrolean Baroque artist Jakob Jenewein. These elements reflect successive contributions rather than a church preserved unchanged from its first construction.

Context and history

The church originated in the thirteenth century and is documented in 1295 and 1355. Gothic transformation followed in the fifteenth century, with further enlargement and Baroque remodelling in the eighteenth. Bulla belongs administratively to Castelrotto while maintaining close geographical and cultural connections with Ortisei.