THE HERMITAGE BETWEEN PENITENTS AND SANCTITY
BETWEEN LOMBARDS AND FRANCISCANISM
BETWEEN LOMBARDS AND FRANCISCANISM
Here is a brief historical "trace"
of the medieval hospital of Calendasco
by Umberto Battini
historian and popularizer
historian and popularizer
 |
| a part of the medieval hospital hermitage |
Along the axis of the Po, just 8 km from the city of Piacenza to the north-west, is the small Po Valley village of Calendasco (Kalendasco in Lombard maps).
Today, for over 25 years now, this place has been home to the Francigen port par excellence: the one indicated by Sigerico, who shipped from here to Corte Sant'Andrea. In ancient maps from 1153 up to 1184 and beyond the Francigena appears mentioned: in capite burgi calendaschi the strata romea.
In the small village, which over the centuries has become a purely agricultural place, four important monuments are preserved for us to see: the small hermitage-hospitio, the 13th-century castle, the oldest ricetto from the 11th century and, of course, the church of which there are Lombard maps from the 8th century.
This time we present readers with a brief history of the hermitage because it was from here that the conversion of Saint Corrado Confalonieri began, who was a tertiary penitent, later a pilgrim and hermit of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
Today, for over 25 years now, this place has been home to the Francigen port par excellence: the one indicated by Sigerico, who shipped from here to Corte Sant'Andrea. In ancient maps from 1153 up to 1184 and beyond the Francigena appears mentioned: in capite burgi calendaschi the strata romea.
In the small village, which over the centuries has become a purely agricultural place, four important monuments are preserved for us to see: the small hermitage-hospitio, the 13th-century castle, the oldest ricetto from the 11th century and, of course, the church of which there are Lombard maps from the 8th century.
This time we present readers with a brief history of the hermitage because it was from here that the conversion of Saint Corrado Confalonieri began, who was a tertiary penitent, later a pilgrim and hermit of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
In the oldest part of the Franciscan hospital convent we preserve the Lombard part with a terracotta jacket well.
In 1200 it was governed by a small community of tertiaries or penitents, those born to St. Francesco and then well regularized with the bull of 1289 "Supra Montem".
In 1280 the Fr. ruled the place. Aristides who some document gives for Blessed.
It was he who in 1290 went to Montefalco to build the convent of what became S. Clare of Montefalco!
Once that construction site was completed, he returned to Calendasco (this story is even attested by an ancient historian from Montefalche) and the local inhabitants should be proud of this, but unfortunately they don't even show any knowledge of who this father Aristide was.
But the same S. Corrado Confalonieri, born in 1290 in the castle of the town of which the family was feudal lords for over two centuries, is a historic part of the small convent-hospital.
In fact, after the fire it caused in 1315 it was precisely from Fr. Aristide was welcomed here and lived there for about ten years, then leaving as a pilgrim to Jerusalem and then stopping to live as a hermit in a naked cave in the mountains of the Noto Valley in Sicily!
But that is another story that I will propose to you in due course.
The hermitage-hospitio of Calendasco had a beautiful size, if we consider that the chapter house is overall of considerable size.
The small original annexed church stands along the road axis.
In 1200 it was governed by a small community of tertiaries or penitents, those born to St. Francesco and then well regularized with the bull of 1289 "Supra Montem".
In 1280 the Fr. ruled the place. Aristides who some document gives for Blessed.
It was he who in 1290 went to Montefalco to build the convent of what became S. Clare of Montefalco!
Once that construction site was completed, he returned to Calendasco (this story is even attested by an ancient historian from Montefalche) and the local inhabitants should be proud of this, but unfortunately they don't even show any knowledge of who this father Aristide was.
But the same S. Corrado Confalonieri, born in 1290 in the castle of the town of which the family was feudal lords for over two centuries, is a historic part of the small convent-hospital.
In fact, after the fire it caused in 1315 it was precisely from Fr. Aristide was welcomed here and lived there for about ten years, then leaving as a pilgrim to Jerusalem and then stopping to live as a hermit in a naked cave in the mountains of the Noto Valley in Sicily!
But that is another story that I will propose to you in due course.
The hermitage-hospitio of Calendasco had a beautiful size, if we consider that the chapter house is overall of considerable size.
The small original annexed church stands along the road axis.
A 16th-century map preserved in the State Archives in Parma shows the town with its church, castle, and convent-hospitio, which also features an appreciable bell tower.
Just under the portico you can see the many small doors that led to the various rooms of the guesthouse, while the convent part has a beautiful terracotta staircase, which goes up two floors and with the same characteristics you may have noticed in the small Umbrian Franciscan hermitages.
We have documents from various centuries of the building that was used in the 17th century as a place where the population gathered after a pulsed bell.
Many notarial deeds of the town are drawn up right here, because the place also had a moral character, and therefore the notary rogata "in hospitio dicti loci calendaschi" sometimes "subtus portichii" altre voltre "in camera superiora".
Historians of the Third Order Regular of S, too.
We have documents from various centuries of the building that was used in the 17th century as a place where the population gathered after a pulsed bell.
Many notarial deeds of the town are drawn up right here, because the place also had a moral character, and therefore the notary rogata "in hospitio dicti loci calendaschi" sometimes "subtus portichii" altre voltre "in camera superiora".
Historians of the Third Order Regular of S, too.
Francis of the General Curia of Rome, over the centuries they have written about this place which they say is one of the most important, recalling that in 1280 a Chapter of Penitents (fratres de penitentia nuncupati) was held in Piacenza.
In 1300 this place was called “of the gorgolare” because about 100 metres away there was a mill (demolished a few years ago) whose waters of the Calendasco grinding stream made a sharp bend right in front of the convent and therefore created that perennial noise of the waters called gurgle.
In 1300 this place was called “of the gorgolare” because about 100 metres away there was a mill (demolished a few years ago) whose waters of the Calendasco grinding stream made a sharp bend right in front of the convent and therefore created that perennial noise of the waters called gurgle.
In recent years the hermitage-hospital has been expertly restored in every part by the owner – as devoted as I am! Of San Corrado! – and under the large entrance portico we were able to hold the first two (of five) national studies conferences in honor of S. Corrado, pride of Calendasco!
In fact, we boast, historical data in hand, not only of having given him his physical birth in the castle, but also his “spiritual” birth in the hermitage of the penitents.
Not of little importance is the famous Legate Sancti Conradi of 9 August 1617, written by the Chancellor and Curial Notary in the Bishop's Palace of Piacenza.
In short, here is a historical summary of our illustrious monument, now privately owned, which is guarded with love and, I may add, also with “veneration”.
In fact, we boast, historical data in hand, not only of having given him his physical birth in the castle, but also his “spiritual” birth in the hermitage of the penitents.
Not of little importance is the famous Legate Sancti Conradi of 9 August 1617, written by the Chancellor and Curial Notary in the Bishop's Palace of Piacenza.
In short, here is a historical summary of our illustrious monument, now privately owned, which is guarded with love and, I may add, also with “veneration”.
by Umberto Battini
historian and popularizer
historian and popularizer
intellectual property of the Author's texts