Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Baptisterium

In 268 BC Ascoli became a Roman "civitas foederata" but after it had revolted against Rome, it was reconquered and destroyed by Pompeius Strabo in 89BC. During the Middle Ages Ascoli was ravaged by the Ostrogoths and then by the Lombards. After nearly two centuries as part of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto (593–789), Ascoli was ruled by the Franks but ultimately it was the bishops that gained influence and power over the city. In 1189 a free republican municipality was established but it experienced the sacking and destruction by the imperial armies of Frederick II. Municipal freedoms got undermined by factional struggles between the most prominent families. The internal unrest between opposing factions did not cease, leading to decades of rebellions, massacres, raids, the growth of banditry and the decline of civil virtues. This unstable situation opened the way to foreign dictatorships, such as condottiero (mercenary) Galeotto Malatesta (14th century) who is driven out by a revolt and later on Francesco Sforza who established a cruel dictatorship (15th century) which was overthrown in 1482, even if Ascoli was forced to recognize the sovereignty of the Church. The town was called "Ascoli" until 1862, when "Piceno" was added, evoking the Picenes, which lived between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. here. The baptistery is located next to the cathedral. The interior of the structure may have been an antique temple on Ascoli's forum. This temple was used as a baptistery already by the 6th century. The baptistery's first restoration came prior to the 9th century, with interventions following in the 10th and 11th centuries. The octagonal building originally had three entrances, symbolizing the Holy Trinity.

Parma was most probably founded by the Etruscans. The Romans founded a colony here. During the Roman Empire, it gained the title of Julia for its loyalty to the imperial house. Attila sacked the city in 452 and during the Gothic War Totila Attila sacked the city in 452 and during the Gothic War Totila destroyed it again. It was then part of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna and, from 569, of the Lombard Kingdom of Italy. During the Middle Ages, Parma became an important stage of the Via Francigena, the main road connecting Rome to Northern Europe. Under Frankish rule, Parma was nominally a part of the Holy Roman Empire created by Charlemagne but locally ruled by its bishops. After the Peace of Constance in 1183 confirmed the Italian communes' rights of self-governance, quarrels with the neighboring communes became harsh, with the aim of controlling the vital trading line over the Po River. The city was besieged in 1247–48 by Emperor Frederick II, who was however crushed in the Battle of Parma by the Lombard League. In 1331, the city submitted to King John of Bohemia. Parma fell under the control of Milan in 1341. After a short-lived period of independence, the Sforza imposed their rule creating a kind of feudalism. The Baptistery is located in the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral. It was commissioned by the City Council to architect and sculptor Benedetto Antelami. In 1216 the second tier was completed. The work stopped under a temporary roof. It continued in 1249 and the octagon was finally completed in 1270. The interior of the baptistery contains sixteen arches, forming alcoves each containing a painted scene. All these are 13th and 14th-century frescoes. Most striking is the painted domed ceiling. The dome is like an umbrella - sixteen rays come out of the center of the ceiling.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The ruins of the medieval pieve-church Santa Maria di Riscamone are located at the end of a long and winding dirt road. Archeologists could find the remains of a Roman dwellings up here. A first small church may have been erected on the site of the Roman settlement in the 5th century. It got enlarged and remoldeled over the centuries but the ruins of the former parish church, that still exist date to the 11th and 12th century. Just a few metres west to the church, the immense baptistery was erected in the 12th century. By now there are only ruins left, but it is still visible, that the baptistery was octogonal with a diameter of 11 metres. Within the ruins of the baptistery are two tympana (?), that According to Geneviève Moracchini-Mazel, late director of "Cahiers Corsica" and author of "Corse Romane", these carvings are older than the baptistery and may come from an earlier church here and got reused here. Adam and Eve, pretty weathered.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The ruins of the medieval pieve-church Santa Maria di Riscamone are located at the end of a long and winding dirt road. Archeologists could find the remains of a Roman dwellings up here. A first small church may have been erected on the site of the Roman settlement in the 5th century. It got enlarged and remoldeled over the centuries but the ruins of the former parish church, that still exist date to the 11th and 12th century. Just a few metres west to the church, the immense baptistery was erected in the 12th century. By now there are only ruins left, but it is still visible, that the baptistery was octogonal with a diameter of 11 metres. Within the ruins of the baptistery are two tympana (?), that according to Geneviève Moracchini-Mazel, late director of "Cahiers Corsica" and author of "Corse Romane", these carvings are older than the baptistery and may come from an earlier church and got reused here. The evil snake is always a frightening symbol.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The ruins of the medieval pieve-church Santa Maria di Riscamone are located at the end of a long and winding dirt road. Archeologists could find the remains of a Roman dwellings up here. A first small church may have been erected on the site of the Roman settlement in the 5th century. It got enlarged and remoldeled over the centuries but the ruins of the former parish church, that still exist date to the 11th and 12th century. Just a few metres west to the church, the immense baptistery was erected in the 12th century. By now there are only ruins left, but it is still visible, that the baptistery was octogonal with a diameter of 11 metres.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. Looking down from the matronaeum on the second floor to one of the four apses.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. From the matronaeum on the second floor, women could watch the baptism. The walls look very rough, but there are some traces of plaster and paint.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. These rough stairs lead up to the matronaeum on the second floor. Climbing up the stairs I felt like inside a nuraghe, but these megalithic buildings in Sardinia are thousands of years older than the baptistery.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. Standing in the center - looking up. Over the eight windows of the upper matronaeum are the four windows of the dome. Additional light comes from a bulb.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. There is an upper matronaeum, from where women could watch the baptism.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large bastistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large bastistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time.

These two buildings, the basilica and the baptistery are in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process, sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left, as having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Next to San Vincenco is the "Battistero di San Giovanni", erected the same time as the basilica.

These two buildings, the basilica and the baptistery, here seen as a scale model, are placed in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process, sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed here already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left, as having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Next to San Vincenco is the "Battistero di San Giovanni", erected the same time as the basilica.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. I could see the interior of the baptistery, as a very friendly sacristan unlocked the door. Grazie mille!

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. I could see the interior of the baptistery, as a very friendly sacristan unlocked the door. Grazie mille! The baptismal font, seen here, was found during recent excavations.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. In the 17th century the portal was moved from west to east - and the portal seen here was added.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. - Off topic: Seveso, place of the 1976 "Seveso disaster" is not even 10 kms south.