Vigolo Marchese - San Giovanni

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. 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, but the well restored (former convent) church is open for visitors. The altar as well as the lectern are made from Roman spolia.