Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Round Church

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117. A local tradition tells, that the building was erected by a Knight Templar returning from Jerusalem. Knight Templars indeed erected many circular churches throughout Europe on the model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but the order, endorsed by Rome around 1129 is younger than the baptistery. Unfortunately the baptistery is only open on sundays.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117. A local tradition tells, that the building was erected by a Knight Templar returning from Jerusalem. Knight Templars indeed erected many circular churches throughout Europe on the model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but the order, endorsed by Rome around 1129 is younger than the baptistery.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. This church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The octagonal plan is very common for baptisteries (not only in Italy) is according to Saint Ambrogio the ideal plan for these buildings. The number "seven" represents life on earth (six days for the creation and the seventh for God´s rest). The "eight" stands for the life after the resurrection made possible through the baptism. There are many ancient graffiti craved into the outside walls of the baptistery. Over the centuries, many pilgrims on their way to Rome (or back) left marks. These "soles" are typical for (walking) pilgrims. Pilgrims traveling one horseback (or mules) often left "horseshoe-graffiti", but I found no horseshoe here. Riders may have taken a different track.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. This church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The octagonal plan is very common for baptisteries (not only in Italy) is according to Saint Ambrogio the ideal plan for these buildings. The number "seven" represents life on earth (six days for the creation and the seventh for God´s rest). The "eight" stands for the life after the resurrection made possible through the baptism. There are many ancient graffiti craved into the outside walls of the baptistery. Over the centuries, many pilgrims on their way to Rome (or back) left marks.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. This church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The octagonal plan is very common for baptisteries (not only in Italy) is according to Saint Ambrogio the ideal plan for these buildings. The number "seven" represents life on earth (six days for the creation and the seventh for God´s rest). The "eight" stands for the life after the resurrection made possible through the baptism. The baptistery was locked, but I could peep though the window. The octagonal structure is still a baptistery.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. This church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The octagonal plan is very common for baptisteries (not only in Italy) is according to Saint Ambrogio the ideal plan for these buildings. The number "seven" represents life on earth (six days for the creation and the seventh for God´s rest). The "eight" stands for the life after the resurrection made possible through the baptism.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. This church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The octagonal plan is very common for baptisteries (not only in Italy) is according to Saint Ambrogio the ideal plan for these buildings. The number "seven" represents life on earth (six days for the creation and the seventh for God´s rest). The "eight" stands for the life after the resurrection made possible through the baptism.

Serravalle (= narrow valley) is part of the larger Varano de' Melegari. The Via Francigena crossed the river Ceno nearby in medieval times. A church was erected over the ruins of a Roman temple, dedicated to Diana, within the 10th century. The church, seen today is younger, as the Romanesque structure was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It is locally claimed, that the octagonal baptistery (left), to be the oldest structure in the Parma region dating back to the 8th century. It was more likely built in the 10th/11th century, when the church gained importance as "pieve". The baptistery survived the 14th-century-earthquake, that destroyed the neighbouring church.