| Church of St. Anthony with a Calvary |
|
; "Sveti Anton") On the hill Rožni hrib nad Idrijo, there rises a well-conceptualised,
dominant urbanistic structure in the form of the church of St. Anthony
of Padua, which is complemented by an excellent scenic representation
of Calvary. The Church and the Calvary are in perfect harmony with the
natural configuration of the terrain and offer far-reaching vistas to
the city and its environs.Miners selected St. Anthony of Padua as their guardian against accidents, which threatened them day and night while labouring in the pit. First, they erected a land mark with a saint’s image on the hilltop and later set up a wooden chapel; in 1678, thanks to the mine’s administrator, they built a church, which retained its form up to the present. ; "Sveti Anton") The
miners themselves, in a massive, voluntary project, carried
out the transfer of building material and other heavy work.
The belfry was added to the façade only in 1805, whereas the
Calvary with 13 chapels – stations on the Christ’s Way of the Cross –
and the large upper chapel were already put in place in
1766. In older times, the place around St. Anthony’s church even
served as stage for enactments of Passion Plays, and until
the present day it has remained a popular meeting spot for
youngsters, Idrijans, and pilgrims, who come during holidays
from neighbouring regions. ; "Cerkev Svetega Antona") The
church’s interior is designed according to the typical rules
of rural baroque architecture, while paintings and sculptures
on altars represent the original work of local artist from
19th century. The imposing main altar was created in 1837 by
master Luka Čeferin, a native of Leskovica below Blegoš, who lived and worked in Idrija. The complex of St. Anthony and its Calvary is a perfect example of harmony between architecture and landscape. |