Tage der Romanik — St.-Johann-Kirche in Taufers im Münstertal

The Romanesque Days in the Vinschgau Valley

The Tage der Romanik (Romanesque Days) is an annual event held every October that opens the medieval treasures of South Tyrol to the public for free, all located along the Alpine Straße der Romanik – Stiegen zum Himmel (Alpine Romanesque Road – Stairs to Heaven). During these days, over thirty Romanesque cultural sites—including churches, chapels, monasteries, and castles between Burgeis, Mals, Neumarkt, and Innichen—welcome visitors with free admission and guided tours, offering a journey through the Alpine Middle Ages filled with sculptures, frescoes, and ancient tales.

The Church of St. John in Taufers

One of the most fascinating stops on the itinerary is the St.-Johann-Kirche (Church of St. John) in Taufers im Münstertal, located in the municipality of Taufers in the Province of Bolzano, just steps from the Swiss border. Built around 1220 using masonry from a 9th-century structure, the church features an unusual Greek cross plan, which is rare in the Alpine region and inspired by Byzantine inscribed-cross churches.

Byzantine-influenced frescoes

The interior houses the most extensive cycle of Romanesque frescoes in the Vinschgau valley, created between the mid-13th and 14th centuries. The fully painted vault reveals a clear Byzantine influence, while the northern exterior wall features the oldest depiction of St. Christopher in Tyrol (c. 1250). In later centuries, the building served as the hospice church for the Order of St. John, featuring a two-story vestibule designed to shelter passing pilgrims.

The event program

During the Tage der Romanik, the Church of St. John remains open continuously from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a guided tour in the afternoon (usually at 4:00 PM). Admission is free and no reservation is required: it is the perfect opportunity to discover the history and artistic details of one of the most precious Romanesque monuments in the Upper Vinschgau, accompanied by expert guides.

An itinerary of art and landscape

The Romanesque Days are part of the broader Stiegen zum Himmel project, promoted by IDM Südtirol, which connects Romanesque sites in South Tyrol and neighboring Switzerland. In the Taufers area, a visit to the Church of St. John can be combined with the scenic Eight Churches Hike (Acht-Kirchen-Wanderung), which traverses the cultural landscape of the Münstertal valley, passing small sacred buildings and ancient testaments to the Alpine Middle Ages.