St. James Cathedral is located in the heart of the Tyrolean city of Innsbruck. It was originally the site of an old church in late Romanesque style, but it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1689. The modern monumental building was built between 1717 and 1724 and is a masterpiece of Austrian Baroque..
Especially worth noting is the main facade of the cathedral, which consists of three tiers, the last of which is already reserved for the tops of the two elegant towers located on the sides. In 2000, a small separate chapel was added to the south tower. The portal is also decorated with sculptures of Tyrolean saints already made in the 20th century.
The cathedral is stunning with its rich interior, which was executed in the first half of the 18th century by the Bavarian craftsmen, the Azam brothers. The work on the walls and ceiling paintings - the frescoes in the dome tell the story of the life of the Apostle James - was completed in 1732. It is also worth noting the exquisite mouldings and the magnificent main altar, decorated with gold, silver and marble. However, the "pearl" of the Innsbruck Cathedral altar is the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child by Lucas Cranach the Elder. This image, known as Maria Hilf, is considered one of the most venerated in Austria.
In total, the cathedral has six more side altars, mostly in the Baroque style. However, it is worth noting that the church was heavily damaged during the bombing raids of World War II, and many valuables and antiquities were irretrievably lost. At the same time, more ancient church utensils and decorative elements have been preserved, for example, a 16th century Gothic crucifix standing in the south altar.
The Archduke Maximilian III of Austria, Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order, who was for some time considered by Boris Godunov as a possible future son-in-law, is buried in the cathedral of Innsbruck. His tombstone, made of marble and decorated with bronze reliefs and statuettes, is also considered a masterpiece of baroque art.
