DE QUATTUOR PARTIBUS MUNDI MEDIEVAL SACRED BUILDINGS ON THE VIA FRANCIGENA IN NORTHERN AND MIDDLE ITALY: SOLSTICE ALIGNMENTS AND ORIENTATIONS

Abstract

This paper discusses different aspects of sun light linked to a religious rite and combined with ecclesiasti

cal architecture. Our focus is on the four points of the solstices which form two sectors, one towards the sun

rise and the other to the sunset. This examination is mainly based on the study of the ancient thought of

scholars and Fathers of the Church. Despite the deep significance of the solstices (the Births of Jesus Christ

and John the Baptist, His forerunner), only few of the over two hundreds medieval churches, situated in the

North of Italy and long the old pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena, are oriented towards the solstice and

equinox rise/set points on the horizon.

Georeferenced surveys on field with astronomical calculations were carried out on these sacred buildings

by the author and the results were strengthened with primary and secondary written sources.

Throughout medieval times on path of faith a lot of hostels and sacred buildings were founded for pil

grims and travellers and a great deal of diaries written by the pilgrims survived so far. These travel reports

record important building descriptions and knowledge of that time. In detail we will discuss a medieval

drawing, one of the few we can admire and which represents the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. It is particu

larly interesting to note, in this accurate drawing, the position of the doors of the building which appear ori

ented to the eight Winds Rose and the summer/winter solstices; the niches which show the cardinal points;

and the Sepulchri that incorporates an Easter alignment. Finally, we discuss solsticial alignments of medieval

church axes and of the position of sunlight inside sacred buildings among the summer solstice, when the sun

is at its highest and simultaneously begins to appear lower.