Parish Church Pieve di Santa Maria, Romanesque church in Vicopisano, Italy

Pieve di Santa Maria is a Romanesque-Pisan church built in the 12th century with a facade of smooth Verrucano stone, divided by pilasters into three parts and by a thin cornice into two registers. The lower register has three portals and six blind arches with diamond motifs, while the upper register has a bifora. Inside, three naves are separated by eight round arches per side on six columns with medieval or reused Roman capitals, and a square pier replaces the fifth column.

The pieve was built in the 12th century on the ruins of an earlier church already recorded in 934. The left side aisle was extended in the 18th century, visible as a separate block, and the bell tower at the rear dates from 1775. The interior columns and capitals are Roman and medieval spolia, brought by Pisan merchants who saw themselves as heirs of imperial Rome.

The interior walls feature frescoes from the late 13th century showing scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus, which visitors can still see today.

The church is located at Via Moricotti 2 in Vicopisano and is accessible daily as it functions as a parish church with regular services. It helps to check service times in advance to plan your visit around the church's active schedule.

The main altar holds a wooden sculpture of the Deposition from the Cross dating to the early 13th century, which is rare in Tuscan religious art. This work demonstrates medieval craftsmanship and rewards close attention from visitors interested in sculpture.