Bardone - Santa Maria Assunta

A church, near an old Roman road, existed here probably during the 6th century. This road leads up to the Cisa Passand connects the Po plain with Tuscany. It was used by the Lombards and later became the Via Francigena. The large church, seen today, is known since 1004. It got modified in 1080 and 1220. Later it got enlarged and transformed a couple of times.

The church houses some extraordinary carvings from the old parish church of Fornovo, but it was locked - and I could find nobody in the hamlet, who could open it.

Santa Maria Assunta has an impressive side portal with this very strange tympanum. Little Jesus standing on his mother's knees blesses the onlooker, while Joseph (?) is reading a book.