Watch Out for the Lions Guarding

The Cathedral of Bolzano

When you visit the Cathedral of Bolzano beware of the lions guarding the entrance. They are said to protect the city from danger.
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Any visit to Bolzano includes a view of the romanesque cathedral towering on the edge of the central Piazza Walther with its patterned glazed roof tiles and a facade of red and yellow sandstone from Val Gardena. There are Gothic gargoyles and balustrades reminiscent of the Notre Dame Church in Paris. A 65 metre tall spire that can be seen from afar and lots of other fascinating details.

You’ll find the Cathedral on PIazza Walther right in the centre of Bolzano

It Started with a Miracle

According to the official Suedtirolerland website  the Cathedral of Bolzano was founded on a miracle.

The church was originally a shrine to La Madonna della Palude or Our Lady of the Bog, erected between the 13th and the 15th century. Local legend has it that a coachman heard a mysterious voice calling for help, while he was crossing some nearby marshland. He caught sight of the top of a statue, which inclined its head as if in gratitude after having been extracted. The coachman erected a shrine for the statue and the shrine soon had to be enlarged in order to accommodate the pilgrims who came to witness the miracle. This led to the construction of the Cathedral of Bolzano, where the Madonna della Palude has survived for centuries and is still on display.

Take a close look on the lion guarding the entrance to the right, and you’ll see it is missing its lower jaw. The other lion, however, has still got its bite.

How the Lion Lost Its Jaw

When you have seen the Madonna make sure to stay clear of the two lions guarding the entrance to the cathedral. It is said that these lions were once alive and will come to life at night to protect the cathedral from danger.

The story goes that the lions were originally two brothers who were transformed into stone by a sorcerer as punishment for their wicked deeds. However, when the cathedral was built, the bishop blessed the lions and they were given the power to come to life and roar, whenever the cathedral or the city was threatened. Once the danger had passed, they would return to their stone forms.

Another legend has it that many years ago a young man wanted to demonstrate his courage by placing his hand in between the jaws of the lion to the right. But when the clock struck 12, the lion closed its mouth and trapped the arm of the young man who had to remain by the church all night. He was found more dead than alive by the first worshippers who came to celebrate the morning mass. They tried to extricate the young man’s hand, that would not budge even with the intervention of the priest. In the end they had to fetch a stonemason and after a lot of work he managed to cut the young man free. In the process he damaged the statue, which is why the right lion is still missing its lower jaw.