Vicofertile - San Geminiano

Vicofertile, located at the old Via Francigena, is meanwhile is a small suburb of the City of Parma.

A church probably existed in Vicofertile already within the 9th century, but the church mentioned in a document from 1039 was smaller than the church seen here. Excavations found the foundations about 50cms under the floor of San Geminiano.

Today´s church was erected around 1200. The roof burned down in 1325, but got rebuilt soon after. The church got modified a couple of times, but a a restoration undertaken in the early 20th century got rid of all interior Baroque additions.

This baptismal font is a real surprise here. While the capitals are rather clumsy, this polished font is really smooth and elegant. It is 68cms high and has a diameter of 98cms, so it was probably used for immersion. Five figures "walk around" the font in a procession. Two clerics, holding a candle, a priest - and the altarboy with the censer and the processional cross.