Domkirche zu St. Jakob (Cathedral of St. James), Innsbruck, Austria

This 18th century baroque cathedral has name-dropping pedigree, as it was designed by starchitect Johann Jakob Herkommer and Munich’s Asam brothers. The current structure with two bell towers was built between 1717-24 on the site of a prior Gothic church.

Look up at the fresco showing the life of Jakob, the holy patron of the church. You’ll swear the ceiling is domed, but that’s just an illusion.  The surface is actually flat. The trickery is Cosma Damian Asam at his best.

Although the main attraction is the Maria Hilf (Mary of Succor) painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, on the main altar, I found the pipe organ striking.

The church was heavily damaged during World War II, during bombardments in December 1944 and was restored in the 1950’s.

 

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