Near the St. Proculus Church with its world-famous frescoes there is the Proculus Museum: Together, there are an ensemble
Image gallery: St. Proculus Museum and Church
The St. Proculus Church - "St. Prokulus Kirchlein" in German, "Chiesa di San Procolo" in Italian - near Naturno is undoubtedly a historical treasure. The building itself was established between 630 and 650 AD in place of an old house and dedicated to Saint Proculus, a bishop of Verona who survived the persecutions of Diocletian. The church features the probably most ancient frescoes of the German speaking area and the most complete early fresco cycle of Tyrol. Furthermore, there are some Gothic frescoes from the 14th century. Discovered in 1912, they were laid open in 1923/24 during the restoration of the church. The age of the oldest pre-Carolingian frescoes, however, is rather contested, new datings refer to the period of time between the 7th and 10th century. The most famous fresco shows a man on a swing, probably St. Proculus himself. Very unusual for a sacred building, however, is the representation of a dog with a herd of cows.
The Proculus Museum, however, is only a short walk away and allocated subterraneously - it takes you into 1,500 years of history of the area around Naturno. Four interesting showrooms lead you across late antiquity, Middle Ages and early modern times. Furthermore there are short film sequences and archaeological finds. One part is dedicated to the time of spotted fever: In the 17th century, this infection, which is mainly transmitted by clothes lice, plagued the area and devastated entire regions. The symptoms are similar to those of typhus. Therefore the bones of people who died of the disease and found their last resting place here were examined.
One of museum's main focus is set of course on on the St. Proculus Church with its valuable wall paintings. Here you can admire the Gothic frescoes which have been taken down from the church walls. And how to reach the St. Proculus Museum and Church? Between the two facilities in the San Procolo road there's a parking space. From Naturno village, they are accessible in a few minutes. A visit to the church is also perfecty combinable to the hike on the Knights' Path of Naturno.
Contact info
- Via San Procolo / St. Prokulusstrasse 1a - 39025 - Naturno / Naturns
- +39 0473 673139
- museosanprocolo@naturno.eu
Opening times
During the event "Follow the star - St. Proculus", the St. Proculus Church stays open in winter on December 26 and 31, 2024, and on the 1st of January and January 6, 2025, from 1.30 to 3.30 pm.
More information
The St. Proculus Museum and Church stay open every year from March resp. April to the end of October resp. early November. In winter, the church is accessible on single days, the museum stays closed. Season start 2025 at the end of March resp. in early April.