The Roman Catholic Wilten Basilica is one of the oldest in Innsbruck. It is a pilgrimage site for many parishioners. Thanks to its exquisite architectural style, the church is easily recognizable and is often visited by tourists, despite its considerable distance from the city center and the standard sightseeing routes.
A church stood on the site of the modern basilica as early as 420. It was an early Christian temple about which very little is known for certain. There is a version that Roman legionaries venerated the Virgin Mary here.
Since 1138, Premonstratensian monks lived here, having founded a monastery nearby. For a long time, the church remained neglected - until the second half of the XVIII century, when it was decided to restore the half-ruined building.
The construction of the new church was carried out under the direction of architect Franz de Paula Penz and continued from 1751 to 1755. The consecration took place in 1756. Parishioners who visited the new church were amazed by the splendor and luxury of both its exterior and interiors.
The Rococo style reigns here, with whimsical and graceful stucco, gold decoration, marble floors, many paintings, and monumental murals on the walls. Of particular value is the XIV-century altar, decorated with four columns and a statue of the Virgin Mary.
