Tatra ice dome on Hrebienk was inspired by the Basilica of St. John in Lateran in Rome. The 13th year of the popular winter attraction was also a tribute to two popes – Pope Francis, who died in 2025, and Leo XIV, who replaced him. According to the manager Lukáš Brodanský even charmed the Holy Father himself with this projectwrites .
“The house was open for 156 days and saw a few hundred thousand visitors. That was 10% more than last year. It was visited by Bishop František Trstenský of Spiš, President Peter Pellegrini and Papal Nuncio Nicola Girasoli, who showed photos of the ice dome to Pope Leo XIV at the audience. and he expressed great admiration,” he told the newspaper.
The main builder of the annual attraction was Adam Bakoš, 20 carvers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany and another 20 assistants worked under his leadership. In addition to the facade of the basilica itself, visitors could also admire the ice sculptures of the apostles on the facade, the holy gate or the papal chair, on which the newly elected pope begins his Peter’s journey. The depiction of portraits of six popes was also unique. In addition to the two already mentioned, they were – Benedict XVI, John Paul II, John Paul I and Paul VI.
Construction mediator Rastislav Kromka pointed out that the construction was made for 25 days, eight hours a day, from 225 tons of ice, specifically from 1800 ice blocks. The highest point of the building was at a height of 10.7 meters and the diameter of the dome was measured at 25 meters.
The Apostolic Nuncio appreciated the details
He visited the building at the beginning of last December Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia Nicola Girasoli. According to him, the ice temple was a true scaled-down replica of the Basilica of St. John in Lateran.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a basilica like this from the ice, it’s really unique, it’s an excellent miniature of a real basilica. There are very well elaborated details, including inscriptions, the 12 apostles and the papal throne,” commented Girasoli and confirmed that he will definitely send the photos of the temple to the Vatican.
He also accompanied the Nuncio Bishop František Trstenský of Spiš, who was in the temple for the first time. “I have been to the original basilica several times this year and now I look in awe at what a faithful replica it is, hats off to the masters,” he stated a few months ago.
