Antico e memoria dell'antico nell'abbazia di San Caprasio ad Aulla (MS)

The study of Roman architectural components re-used into the medieval Abbey of San Caprasio (Aulla, MS), on the Via Francigena, offers the opportunity to analyze times, intents and meanings of their reuse in the site, not far from the Roman colony of Luni. This seems to be selective and functional: marble slabs, tiles, architectural fragments and at least an inscription are integrated in the absidal floor of the IX Century; white marble blocks seal the tomb of the Saint in the romanic church, perhaps as a secondary reuse. The town seems to have shared the interest in the antique that characterized the area of Pisa, Genova and Lucca, where reuse has been a widespread practice. This interest can explain the classicizing style of several architectural elements of the medieval and modern age, which reproduce on purpose the Antique, connoting themselves as spolia in re.