Azienda per il Turismo - Trento, Monte Bondone, Valle dei Laghi

S. Peter

The church of S. Peter probably dates back to the twelfth century, built on the site of a pre-existent chapel: a successive series of restorations modified the original aspect significantly. The neogothic style façade (work of a nineteenth century reconstruction) is divided into three spans and surmounted by the statue of S. Pietro, whilst the bell tower dating back to the fifteenth century is original.

Inside, a nave and two aisles host some marble altars (neogothic ones dedicated to S. Antonio of Padua and to the Crucifix are of particular value and above them some wooden statues depicting saints made by a school in Val Gardena can be admired), the baptistery with a baroque marble sculpture showing the baptism of Christ, and a large wooden nineteenth century crucifix. The presbytery holds an eighteenth century marble altar, the statues of Saint Peter and Paul and a ciborium. There is also a chapel dedicated to S. Simonino that is usually closed.

The cult of "little Simon" (or Simonino, as he was known to the people) is worthy of investigation. During the passion week of 1475, the body of this three year old child was found in a stream that ran underneath the city's synagogue. The Jews were accused of his death and this therefore provoked a repression that led to a series of executions, whilst people started to venerate the child. After the publication in 1964 of a very precise historical review, the innocence of the Jews was recognised and the year after the Church officially abolished the cult of S. Simonino.