San Colombano is Romanesque-style,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

former-parish church located in the town of Fanano in the region of

Emilia-Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...

, Italy.

History

The small ancient church, first documented in the 7th century, is now located adjacent to the present parish church in Fanano. It was founded by monks from the Columban

Bobbio abbey Bobbio Abbey (Italian: ''Abbazia di San Colombano'') is a monastery founded by Irish Saint Columbanus in 614, around which later grew up the town of Bobbio, in the province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is dedicated to Saint Columbanus. ...

. Other sources claim

St Anselm Anselm of Canterbury, OSB (; 1033/4–1109), also called ( it, Anselmo d'Aosta, link=no) after his birthplace and (french: Anselme du Bec, link=no) after his monastery, was an Italian Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher and theologian of the ...

established the church on land donated by the Lombard King

Astolfo Astolfo (also Astolpho, Estous, and Estouls) is a fictional character in the Matter of France where he is one of Charlemagne's paladins. He is the son of Otto, the King of England (possibly referring to Charles' contemporary Offa of Mercia), ...

. Anselm then soon left to found the Abbey of Nonantola. The church had a nearby monastery and hospice for pilgrims and the destitute. Rebuilt in 1580, it again was razed after 15 years due to the dilapidation, and re-built by Ottonello Ottonelli. Only the base and substructure date to the earlier churches. In 1897, it underwent a further restoration to try to return to original design and layout.Associazione Amici di San Colombano, entry on church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colombano Fanano 8th-century churches in Italy Roman Catholic churches completed in 1580 Churches in Fanano Romanesque architecture in Emilia-Romagna