Pieve di Brancoli, Romanesque parish church in Lucca, Italy.
The Pieve di Brancoli is a Romanesque parish church standing on a hillside with three naves divided by columns and pillars. The building features a semicircular apse and a bell tower topped with crenellations.
The church was built on the remains of a former temple to Apollo and gained parish status in 1092. It had already been consecrated by Pope Alexander II in 1026.
Inside you can see a marble ambo carved with lions fighting warriors and a glazed terracotta work by Andrea della Robbia. The church also holds a painted crucifix from the Berlinghieri school, showing the artistic taste of medieval times.
The church sits about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Lucca's center on a hillside reached by a winding country road. Tours can be arranged by calling ahead to book a visit.
The lintel above the south door displays an enigmatic relief figure called the Brancolino with outstretched arms and oversized hands. This mysterious carving has never been fully explained by scholars.
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