Pieve di Santa Maria, Vicopisano explained

Santa Maria is the Roman Catholic, Romanesque-style church, located on Via Moricotti #2 in the town of Vicopisano in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.[1]

History

This stone church was originally outside the walls of the nearby castle, the Rocca di Vicopisano, hence its description as a pieve or rural parish. Documents make note of a church of this name in Vicopisano by the year 934. The church facade has walled up arches and geometric and floral decorations; while the interior is simple. It has a central nave and two aisles, separated by re-used Ancient Roman columns with Romanesque capitals. The church layout we see today likely dates to the 11th century. The windows are tall and narrow.

The main altar has a wooden sculptural group depicting a deposition from the cross, whose dating is attributed to the 13th-century. At one time the wood was painted. Traces of 13th-century frescoes were discovered behind stone side altars that flanked the aisle.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=BFxEAQAAMAAJ La patria; geografia dell' Italia
  2. https://www.vicopisanoturismo.it/en/portfolio-articoli/pieve-di-santa-maria/ Vicopisano Turismo