Chiesa dello Spirito Santo

Built in 1399 as the chapel of a hospital for pilgrims and the sick, Vipiteno’s Church of the Holy Spirit preserves a Gothic fresco cycle painted by Hans von Bruneck around 1402.

Why it matters

The church grew from the charitable institution that served travellers on the Brenner route. Its hospital origins are also recalled in Vipiteno’s coat of arms, which depicts a pilgrim with crutches and a rosary beneath the Tyrolean eagle. The frescoes make the church an important example of Gothic painting in the town.

What to notice

Scenes from Christ’s Passion fill the nave, including the Annunciation, the prayer on the Mount of Olives, Christ before Pilate, the carrying of the cross and the Resurrection. A large Last Judgment occupies the west wall. Painted medallions on the vault contain prophets, church fathers and symbols of the Evangelists. A statue of Saint Sebastian recalls his local patronage.

Context and history

The church was built in 1399 beside the hospital that served pilgrims, the sick and the elderly. Hans von Bruneck painted the fresco cycle around 1402. The building’s hospital wing and its position on Vipiteno’s main square preserve the connection between civic charity and the medieval Brenner route.