Spodnja Idrija busts a rich cultural heritage and an 800-year-long documented historical past. Traditional legend recounts the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary at Skalca above the Idrijca river, where later first chapel was built. The first reference to the small church was recorded in the 12th century. The present parish church of Our Lady Assumption, in local usage “Marija na Skalci” (Mary on the Rock), may thus pride itself on an 850-year-long history. Originally it was a subsidiary of the ancient parish at Šentviška Gora, and later, in the 14th century, it passed under the supervision of the parish at the church of St. Jernej in Cerkno. In the 15th century, it became an independent parish and was as susch also granted permanently appointed priests. The parish church of Our Lady of Assumption rises intothe air above the historic heart of the town, which has up to present day preserved it suggestive name, “At the Village”. In recent years it has been thoroughly refurbished. The temple has an excellent position above the settlement and is, as a dominant visual element above the whole valley, visible from near and far. These chapels – the so-called Pokloni –used to be set up in places where pilgrims spotted Mary’s church for the first time and bowed in respect of it. The church was reconstructed and equipped in baroque style in the 17th century, which is recorded by an inscription from the year 1674 on the belfry. The majority of valuable ancient decoration (oil paintings, sculptures, altars) was the work of local painters and carvers living during the 19th century.
↧