Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria Paris Church is the only used church in the village of Vicopisano. It was built on XII century.
The monumental structure has 3 naves, and outside it has ‘pietra verrucana’ vestments (1914-1925).
On the higher part there is a sloping double-arched window, and it is decorated by elevated small arches. The bell tower was built in 1775.
A low relief (inside the facade) rapresents the ‘Decollazione of San Giovanni Battista’. The 3 inner naves are divided by columns with Roman capitals.
Frescos:
On the right: ‘Annunciazione’, ‘Visitazione’, ‘Natività’ and Erode orders the ‘strage degli innocenti’
On the low relief (on the right, in the low) : ‘San Giorgio and the dragon’ on the top: ‘ll Battesimo di Cristo’
On the left wall: on the top: ‘Cattura del Cristo’ and at the bottom: ‘Pentecoste’
The cycle was supposed to use for background at the precious wood groups of seven pictures of ‘Deposizione della Croce’. There is inserted on the left wall since XVII century. A fifteenth-century tabernacle made by a rock come from a close oratorical oratorio together a big wood simulacrum.
The statue was do for the San Felice church (in Pisa), where it stayed unused.
Visits:
The Paris Church is open all days from 8.00 to 18.00
Sunday is closed from 13.00 to 15.00.
Address: Via Moricotti, 2, 56010 Vicopisano PI
For informations: Tel. 050 799155
Website: Pieve di Santa Maria a Vicopisano