From the Etruscan age to the Middle Ages Socana was a place of great road importance: here crossed roads arriving from Arezzo, from the Valdarno, from the Casentino. Such a so busy place had to have its important place of faith, readapted for every age, for every belief.
The present Romanesque parish church of Socana, built in the XI century, is the fourth holy building here built.
Actually in the VI century BC a great Etruscan temple, that today is under the church, was built but nevertheless it shows some of its parts; the most clear is the sacrificial altar placed a few meters from the apse of the parish church. From the II century BC to the V century AC Socana is a Roman installation for the control of the territory; the round low part of the present bell tower was the base of the tower of Roman guard.
In the VI century the first small Christian church was built and in the VIII century a great Christian Church: three aisle as the present one, five spans of length. In the XI century this church is replaced with the present Romanesque parish church, of the same dimensions.
At the beginning of ‘400 (the date is uncertain) the first two spans were destroyed and the façade was restored abreast of the pillars of the third span. Nowadays, despite this mutilation, Pieve a Socana shows a great majesty and through the Etruscan altar and some architectural inside details it can tell us its long and important history.

For a web site with more detailed texts (only italian version):
www.ilbelcasentino.it