Valle d'Aosta + Piemont + Liguria

The "Duomo di Carignano" (aka "Duomo Santi Giovanni Battista e Remigio") was erected 1757 - 1767 after the preceding Gothic church on the same spot had been demolished. The Baroque church was designed by Benedetto Alfieri and has a unique layout. From the back, it looks like a rotunda, but the structure is a kind of "part-rotunda", as the layout is based on a segment of a circle.

The "Duomo di Carignano" (aka "Duomo Santi Giovanni Battista e Remigio") was erected 1757 - 1767 after the preceding Gothic church on the same spot had been demolished. The Baroque church was designed by Benedetto Alfieri and has a unique layout. The structure is a kind of "part-rotunda", as the layout is based on a segment of a circle, what creates this very wide, concave facade.

The "Duomo di Carignano" (aka "Duomo Santi Giovanni Battista e Remigio") was erected 1757 - 1767 after the preceding Gothic church on the same spot had been demolished. The Baroque church was designed by Benedetto Alfieri and has a unique layout. The structure is a kind of "part-rotunda", as the layout is based on a segment of a circle.

The "Duomo di Carignano" (aka "Duomo Santi Giovanni Battista e Remigio") was erected 1757 - 1767 after the preceding Gothic church on the same spot had been demolished. The Baroque church was designed by Benedetto Alfieri and has a unique layout. The structure is a kind of "part-rotunda", as the layout is based on a segment of a circle.

A small chapel existed here, before Antonio Faccio, jurist, banker and owner of the estate around, commissioned architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone with the construction of this church in 1738. Antonio Faccio wanted this as a "gift for the peasants and his estate". The church is known for the interior artful cupola and the frescoes, but it was locked when we arrived.

San Martino dates back to the back to the Lombard-Carolingian period and was built before the year 1000. It may well be, that the first Christian church here dates to the late Roman times. At that time here was a larger settlement. When San Martino was erected Roman bricks were used. On the façade, there is a mullioned window with a small Carolingian capital. The structure had a basilical plan, with three naves. The interior was rebuilt between 1700 and 1800, the right aisle was eliminated and the apses were raised in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the church was locked.

A legend tells, that San Costanzo a member of the Theban Legion was beheaded on this spot in 303. Later an oratory was erected over the site that got destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century. San Costanzo al Monte was erected around 1190 probably by Lombard / Comacini masters. It got enlarged and remodelled a couple of times over the centuries. The current façade is from the 18th century, the same time the old tower got replaced by a new one. The church was locked, so that we could not see the old crypt and the capitals and frescoes of the interior.

A legend tells, that San Costanzo a member of the Theban Legion was beheaded on this spot in 303. Later an oratory was erected over the site that got destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century. San Costanzo al Monte was erected around 1190 probably by Lombard / Comacini masters. It got enlarged and remodelled a couple of times over the centuries. The current façade is from the 18th century, the same time the old tower got replaced by a new one. The church was locked, so that we could not see the old crypt and the capitals and frescoes of the interior.

A legend tells, that San Costanzo a member of the Theban Legion was beheaded on this spot in 303. Later an oratory was erected over the site that got destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century. San Costanzo al Monte was erected around 1190 probably by Lombard / Comacini masters. It got enlarged and remodelled a couple of times over the centuries. The current façade is from the 18th century, the same time the old tower got replaced by a new one. The church was locked, so that we could not see the old crypt and the capitals and frescoes of the interior.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The portal with the pointed arch and the octagonal lantern are from the 13th century.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The portal with the pointed arch seen here is from the 13th century.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The portal with the pointed arch seen here is from the 13th century. The capitals, that flank the doors are clearly Romanesque. Hares eating or torturing men are a strange subject. I remember them from Conques and from Koenigslutter.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The portal with the pointed arch seen here is from the 13th century. The capitals, that flank the doors are clearly Romanesque.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The portal with the pointed arch seen here is from the 13th century. The capitals, that flank the doors are clearly Romanesque.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The (round!) baptistery may be the oldest part of the cathedral. Inside ist the "Museo Diocesano". The large baptismal font dates back to the time of total immersion.

Ventimiglia is the Italian border town to France. It is located at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts. It was a Roman municipium under the name of Albintimilium and was surrounded by a city wall a prosperous town. Already in 670, the town held the seat of a Bishop. Later it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths and suffered from the raids of the Lombards. In the 10th century, it was attacked and looted by the Saracens. Ventimiglia was ruled by the local counts but lived in constant conflict with the Republic of Genoa. In 1505 it was finally annexed to the Genoese Republic was part of the republic until 1814, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Sardinia. - The Cathedral of Ventimiglia was erected between the 11th and 12th century on the ruins of a previous cathedral of the Lombard / Carolingian period. This again had been built on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Juno. The Chapter of the Cathedral was confirmed by Pope Lucius III in 1182. Originally the church had a single nave, but already in the 12th century, it got completely rebuilt with three naves. The (round!) baptistery may be the oldest part of the cathedral. Inside ist the "Museo Diocesano". Seen on the capital are a horse (left) and a giant hare (right). Maybe there is a connection to the two aggressive hares near the portal.