Chiesa di Sant’Ottaviano in collina

What does the mysterious inscription on its façade tell us?

Chiesa di Sant’Ottaviano in collina is another recently restored little treasure.

It stands on the first burial place of Octavian, who arrived in Italy in the 6th century together with Saints Justus and Clement. The story goes that here, where the oratory named after him now stands, he lived in the hollow of an elm tree. His body is today preserved in the cathedral of Volterra.

On its façade, to the right of the entrance door, an epigraph that does not speak our language. It appears to be a text in onciale, an ancient capital script used mainly in manuscripts. A possible interpretation of the text is ANNI DOMINI MCCCCII PAVOLO DI GUCCIO E ANDREOCCIO DI BARTOLOMEO ERESSERO: In the year 1402, Paolo di Guccio and Andreoccio di Bartolomeo erected it.

If the Romanesque layout belies this date of construction, it is more plausible that the two were responsible for some restoration work. The name Andreoccio di Bartolomeo corresponds to that of an inlayer active in Volterra in those same years.

That it was he himself who carved the inscription?

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