The Romanesque Pieve di San Martino a Vado in Casentino

The Pieve di San Martino a Vado is a significant religious monument located in Strada in Casentino, in the municipality of Castel San Niccolò, in the province of Arezzo. As one of the most notable Romanesque churches in the valley, it reflects the history of the area. While a church with this dedication was recorded in 1028, the current building was constructed in the 12th century. It underwent various interventions, most notably after a grave flood of the nearby Solano river in 1745.

The church's present appearance largely reflects its original state, except for the bell tower located next to the apse, which is later than the ancient one near the facade. The facade features a sandstone paring with hanging arches and a 16th-17th century portal. Inside, the nave is divided by six columns with 12th-century capitals of different designs, the work of anonymous Lombard sculptors. These capitals represent a variety of human and zoomorphic figures, volutes, stars, and palm leaves.

The interior also preserves fragmented frescoes transferred from the adjacent Church of San Niccolò. These include a large 14th-century fresco of San Niccolò on the right wall and another 14th-century work on the left wall. In the counterfacade, there is a set of parts from the 14th century featuring Angels and an Annunciation dated 1525.

Several paintings remain hanging on the left wall that escaped restoration in the 1960s. These include a 1617 work by Francesco Mati showing San Michele Arcangelo between two saints, and an early 18th-century painting attributed to Giovanni Antonio Pucci, a student of Gabbiani. Other works that were once in this church have moved to nearby locations, including a 1605 painting by Francesco Mati now at Santa Maria a Spalanni and a 1650 painting by Francesco Guerrieri now in the Oratorio della Visitazione di Strada.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons