Two-naves Churches in Spis Region
The Spiš region in eastern Slovakia is known for its distinctive landscape and rich cultural heritage. At the edge of the Slovak Paradise National Park lies Smižany, the village where I grew up. Its historic church, which I visited every Sunday with my parents, has always fascinated me with its unusual atmosphere and the monumental column standing at the centre of its interior.
The church belongs to a remarkable group of sixteen Gothic two-aisled churches found in the Spiš region. This architectural form is relatively rare, yet it developed here on a scale unparalleled elsewhere in Central Europe. The central column, dividing the interior into two aisles, is sometimes interpreted as a representation of the biblical Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden.
Through photography, the project explores these architectural spaces as places of memory, contemplation, and cultural identity. Beyond their historical significance, the churches carry traces of the lives, beliefs, and traditions of previous generations, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with the past.