Casentino, land of Romanesque parish churches in Tuscany

The Casentino in Tuscany is a land with an important medieval history. The artistic and architectural expressions of this valley are particularly meaningful of this period. Among the more remarkable architectural expressions it is with no doubt to remember the Romanesque parish churches, buildings built in the XI and XII centuries. They rise along important roads of communication, they are the churches of the people, the people of the fields, of the pilgrims.
Their structures are essential, without frills, almost to represent a correct equilibrium between spirit and body. The capitals set on the top of the columns or of the pillars represent the most characteristic decorative elements of the Romanesque parish churches of the Casentino. They were not realized by known sculptors, but by specialized unskilled workers. They illustrate us elements of the nature, symbols of the Christianity, scenes of the Holy Scriptures. The apses of these churches are generally another architectural element of remarkable importance. The interiors of these buildings are quite dark, the little light filtered through the narrow single, double or triple lancet windows.
In the Casentino there are five particularly interesting Romanesque parish churches: the Pieve of Sant'Antonio in Socana, the Pieve di San Martino in Vado in Strada, the Pieve of Santa Maria Assunta in Stia, the Pieve of Santa Maria Assunta in Montemignaio and the Pieve in San Pietro in Romena, declared a national monument.