View source for Collegiata of Castell'Arquata

{{Short description|Roman Catholic church in Emilia-Romagna, Italy}}
[[File:Castell%27Arquato_Building.JPG|thumb|''Collegiata'' church]]
The '''Collegiata di Castell'Arquato''', also known as the '''Collegiata di Santa Maria''', is a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]]-style, [[Roman Catholic]] church located in the [[Castell'Arquato]], [[province of Piacenza]], in [[Emilia-Romagna]], Italy.
==History and description==
[[File:Castell'arquato Portale.JPG|thumb|Portal of Paradise with Romanesque sculpture]]
[[File:Castell'arquato 085.jpg|thumb|left|Facade of church]]
Documents allege a church existed at the site by 756. Of that building, only the baptismal font seems to have survived. The [[1117 Verona earthquake|earthquake of 1117]] prompted a major reconstruction, and a new building consecrated in 1122. The ''Portal of Paradise'' retains some of the Romanesque sculptural elements, with a relief depicting Madonna and Child with St Peter and Angels.  The portico on the left of the church with octagonal columns, church cloister, and bell-tower, date to the 15th century. The church facade was also completed in the 15th century. The ''Palazzo Pretorio'' adjacent to the church was built in 1293. Further reconstructions and additions occurred in 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1899, the 15th-century frescoes were discovered in the Chapel of Santa Caterina. A few decades later, the 8th-century baptismal immersion font came to light. The interior walls of this chapel have frescoes by unknown Tuscan painters, depicting the ''Passion of Christ'', and the ''Death and Glory of the Virgin''.
The chapel of St Joseph, built in 1630 after the ebbing of the plague, was decorated by frescoes by [[Giacomo Guidotti]].<ref>[https://piacenzapace.it/davedere/collegiata-di-santa-maria-assunta-in-castellarquato/ Piacenza Patrimonio Culturale Ecclesiastico]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.piacenzamusei.it/index/it/pagine/visita-alla-chiesa-228/collegiata-di-castell-arquato/.html Piacenza Musei] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204125016/http://www.piacenzamusei.it/index/it/pagine/visita-alla-chiesa-228/collegiata-di-castell-arquato/.html |date=2019-02-04 }}, provincial tourism site.</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{coord|44.8509|9.8670|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:IT|display=title}}
[[Category:Churches in the province of Piacenza]]
[[Category:Romanesque architecture in Emilia-Romagna]]
[[Category:756 establishments]]
[[Category:12th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy]]
[[Category:8th-century establishments in Italy]]