Church of San Maria del Conforto/Maria Trost

The Santuaria Santa Maria del Conforto is a Roman Catholic church on the corner of Via Schaffer and Via roma in Merano. Due to its long history and priceless artworks, it is considered one of the city's most important religious and artistic buildings.

The church's history can be traced back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The building has been remodeled several times over the centuries. A Gothic chancel replaced the original Romanesque one in the 14th century, while the church underwent Baroque alterations in the 17th century. A new entrance was built in the 19th century, and the bell tower was modified towards the end of the century.

The church is particularly renowned for its remarkable Romanesque and Gothic frescoes. These artworks depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, holy figures, and motifs from various medieval art styles.

Today, the Santuaria Santa Maria del Conforto Church is a significant part of Merano's cultural and religious heritage.

If you are at the Merano train station, we recommend taking bus line 210 or 201 to the Scuola Negrelli  stop. From there it is only a 2-minute walk to the church.

From the city centre you can reach the Church of San Maria del Conforto via the cycle path towards Bolzano. At the roundabout at via Palade/via Piave head towards via Trogmann to reach the intersection with via Roma where you will find yourself opposite the church.

There aren't parking places in the immediate vicinity of the church, but you can find some parking places on the Rome Street.

Proper behavior and good manners make visiting cultural sites more pleasant for everyone and show your respect for art, culture, and history.

• Time is relative – but opening hours are not! Please respect them – the staff will thank you. Musicians also appreciate a punctual audience.

• Photography is sometimes okay, but not always. What is allowed or not is usually clearly indicated in front of or inside the cultural sites. In any case, flash photography is prohibited in front of every picture and all historical frescoes and paintings!

• It's good for the atmosphere, good for other visitors, and of course, good for you too: When all cell phones are silent and voices are quieter, it's simply more enjoyable in museums and churches. For those traveling in small groups, this might not be so easy. But it can be done.

• It's acceptable in cinemas, but not in churches: Eating and drinking are forbidden. So is smoking. And trash cans have their purpose right there in their name.

• Clothes make the person – this is especially true in religious sites. The advice to cover your shoulders and thighs is always a good one.

• The ground can be uneven, and stairs can be narrow and uneven. Take one step at a time, and you'll be on the safe side.

• Even today, people with disabilities don't have barrier-free access to all cultural venues. If they do, they should be given priority. It's a matter of dignity—theirs and yours.

• It's helpful if your pet has learned to wait for you outside, as pets are not allowed in most cultural venues.

• Check the emergency exits and evacuation plans in case of an emergency. If this happens, the most important thing is to remain calm, go outside, and wait at the assembly point.

We understand that most of these tips are common sense to you. And yet, it's easy to forget one or two. By following these basic rules—being calm, mindful, and respectful—you'll be doing your community, future generations, and yourself a great service.