Castell'Arquato - Collegiata di Santa Maria

A church existed here in 758. This church, dedicated to Mary, as well as the village were given to the Bishop of Piacenza by Lord Magnus in 789. The village stayed under the control of the Bishops for the next 430 years.

This church got severely damaged by the earthquake in 1117. The rebuilding started soon after got completed in only five years. The consecration of the new building took place here in 1122.

The interior was pretty dim, lit only by a few candles, but there was a slot machine. To my surprise the machine was a cheater. It did accept the coins - but refused to switch the light on.

This church got severely damaged by the earthquake in 1117. The rebuilding started soon after got completed in only five years. The consecration of the new building took place here in 1122.

The interior was pretty dim, lit only by a few candles, but there was a slot machine, offering 5 minutes of light for only 50 cents. To my surprise the machine was a cheater. It did accept the coins - but refused to switch the light on.

Only around the giant baptismal font, that was probably used (full immersion?) already in the 8th century, the light was better. From the early years upto the time, when the "Canons Regular" moved in, this church was a "pieve", a parish church where people got baptised. Not all churches had that privilege.