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THE RAMOLIVA CROSS

In the locality of Ramoliva a wooden cross of the same name (“ramoliva” meaning “olive branch”) marks the beginning of an ancient path which leads to the castle. A copy of this cross, requested by Alfredo D’Andrade, marks the entrance to Turin’s medieval hamlet.

The cross is still very imposing and, though time-ravaged and lacking the crucifix in the main part and the Madonna and Child decorating the posterior part (removed by persons unknown), is to be counted among the most important examples of fourteenth-century Aostan sculpture.

The crossbars have an octagonal section and they end in a series of decorated quatrefoils. On the main side, the tetramorph figures represent, on the top, Saint John’s eagle, at the two extremes of the beam Luke’s bull and Mark’s lion, with at Christ’s feet Matthew’s angel beneath a vegetable component.