The Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist and Its Apse in Lasa

The Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist in Lasa dates back to the 13th century and was built on the remains of a pre-existing church. The complex was destroyed by the great fire of the 19th century, which affected much of the village’s architectural heritage.

The apse of the church in Lasa — a Romanesque architectural element in the shape of a semi-dome — is among the most beautiful in South Tyrol. Once used as a sacristy, it was later reconstructed after fragments of the original Romanesque apse were discovered, becoming one of the finest surviving examples of Romanesque architecture.

The apse is divided by columns, each containing three arched windows, with the central one being the smallest. Among its decorative features are the lesenes (upper pilaster strips) and, halfway up, two sculpted figures depicting a lion and a ram. Inside, the apse is simple and linear, except for its Carolingian relief portraying the three martyrs Saints Alessandrino, Martirio, and Sisino.