Category: History
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The Colossus of Barletta, echoes from the East
An imposing bronze statue seems to stare with icy eyes at the tourists walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Barletta. It is a familiar figure to the locals, who call it Arè, short for Heraclius. Heraclius is about four and a half meters tall, and his appearance testifies to centuries of life, partially mysterious. This…
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The Roman Remains and the church of Santa Reparata in Florence
Long before becoming the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence preserved important remains from the Roman and Early Christian periods: archaeological excavations carried out beneath Piazza della Signoria and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore have brought to light extraordinary discoveries, including the remains of a Roman theatre dating from the 1st–2nd centuries AD and…
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The Knights of the Tau Cross in Altopascio
Along the Tuscan stretch of the Via Francigena, the ancient route that led pilgrims from France to Jerusalem, lies the beautiful town of Altopascio. Here, before 1084, stood the Spedale “edificatus in locus et finibus ubi dicitur Teupascio“. Such was in fact the structure used for the sustenance and care of the wayfarers who traveled…
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The Templars: monks and soldiers, pilgrims and knights
The capture of Jerusalem at the end of the First Crusade marked a decisive turning point in the history of medieval Europe. The Holy City was to be defended and preserved at all costs, while the sacred sites of Christendom were to be safeguarded in accordance with God’s will. To fight in order to pray:…