The Chiesa Evangelica Luterana di Trieste is one of the main symbols of the Protestant presence in the city, witness to its multicultural vocation and the religious tolerance that has characterized it since the Settecento. Located in Largo Odorico Panfili, in the heart of the Borgo Teresiano, the church is a refined example of German neo-Gothic architecture and represents the center of the Triestine Lutheran community.
The origins of the Lutheran community
The Evangelical presence in Trieste dates back to the period of commercial expansion and religious tolerance.
- 1717: The first Lutheran families settled in the city, attracted by the proclamation of the Porto Franco.
- 1754: The first Evangelical cemetery was opened.
- 1778: The Lutheran community was officially founded, with the authorization of Maria Teresa d’Austria and, shortly after, of Giuseppe II.
- 1786: The Lutherans purchased the church of the Madonna del Rosario, which became their first public place of worship, used until 1871.
The community grew rapidly thanks to the arrival of merchants and professionals from the Grigioni, from Germania and from Svizzera.
The construction of the neo-Gothic church
In the XIX century, with the increase in the faithful (over 1700 members in the mid-Ottocento), the community decided to build a new church. The project was entrusted to the architect Carl Johann Christian Zimmermann of Breslavia, who was inspired by the church of San Nicola of Amburgo and the Votivkirche of Vienna.
The works began in 1871 on land previously occupied by salt pans, consolidated with over 200 oak piles. The church was inaugurated on November 1, 1874 and is distinguished by:
- The facade in pietra d’Istria.
- The sloping roofs in ardesia.
- The bell tower 50 meters high adorned with flowered guglie and pinnacoli.
- The historiated vetrate.
The bells were cast with the bronze of French cannons confiscated at Sedan and donated by the emperor Guglielmo I of Germania.
The interior of the church
The interior, sober according to the Lutheran tradition, is with three naves divided by columns, with altar, baptismal font and lectern coming from Breslavia. Above the choir stands out a large vetrata depicting the Trasfigurazione di Cristo by Raffaello, made by the vetreria Zettler of Monaco di Baviera. There are also two neoclassical funerary monuments by Antonio Bosa, dedicated to Giorgio Enrico Trapp and to the Danish consul Dumreicher d’Osterreicher.
The community between Ottocento and Novecento
In the period of greatest splendor, the Triestine Lutheran community counted almost 2000 members and played a prominent role in the economic, social and cultural life of the city, promoting:
- Schools and volunteer associations.
- Solidarity initiatives such as the Istituto Rittmeyer for the blind and the SOGIT.
After the annexation of Trieste to Italy and especially after the Second World War, the community suffered a strong numerical decline, dropping to the current 120-160 members. Since 2000, the Italian language has become the main one in the cults, alongside German, reflecting the integration into the city society.
The church today
Today the Chiesa Evangelica Luterana di Trieste is open four days a week and hosts religious functions in Italian and German, concerts, ecumenical meetings and diaconal activities. The community is engaged in:
- Social projects: distribution of food bags, loan of hospital beds, support for families in difficulty.
- Environmental projects: management of arnie for the production of solidarity honey.
The church is also an important place of culture, music and interreligious dialogue, open to all the citizenship.
The Chiesa Evangelica Luterana di Trieste thus remains a symbol of the multicultural history of the city, of its openness to the world and of the ability to combine tradition, solidarity and innovation.