Nova Štifta, Sodražica

Nova Štifta (Neustift ) is a small settlement in the Municipality of Sodražica in southern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region.

Church
Nova Štifta is best known for its pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is a Baroque church with an exterior arcade. It was built between 1641 and 1671 and was commissioned by the Jurij Khisl, lord of the castle in Ribnica, after a mysterious light appeared at Juniper Hill (Brinov vrh, 622 m), as the site is known. The church has an octagonal nave and a smaller square chancel with beveled corners. The cupola rises 27 m and is topped by a belfry with a Baroque roof. The church is probably based on the Renaissance Coronation of the Virgin Church in Lodi, Italy, which was a model for many later churches in Slovenia.