Pieve Vecchia: History of the Former Pieve di Scotriano

If you are considering Pieve Vecchia as a travel destination, the former Pieve di Scotriano is a defining historical landmark. Pieve Vecchia is the current name of the place where this former pieve stood. The history of the area unfolds across several periods: ecclesiastical affiliations, the suppression of the pieve, later buildings, and names that live on in historical descriptions. This makes Pieve Vecchia particularly interesting for travelers who take historical connections to a place into account when choosing where to stay.

The Former Pieve and Its History

Historical names for Pieve Vecchia also include Pievaccia di Colle Pinzato and Pincioli. By the 15th century, the Pieve di Scotriano had already fallen into ruin, and the area had become rural. Later, in 1575, the pieve was suppressed; its estates passed to the seminary of the Primaziale of Pisa. The ruin and suppression mark distinct stages in the area's history and help place the long development of the ecclesiastical site in context.

In addition to the main church, the historic territory of the Pieve di S. Giovanni Battista e S. Maria in Scotriano included eight subsidiary churches. Another architectural trace is the Pieve di S. Giovanni a Scutriano, which Antonio Chiocchini rebuilt in 1767. Together, these details offer insight into both the extent of the historic ecclesiastical territory and a later phase of reconstruction.

Buildings and Landscape

The remains of the former Pieve di Scotriano are at the foot of Colle Pinzuti. A historical description places them to the right of the road from Gragnoli to Orciano, near the Via Emilia, also known as the Maremmana. At the former site of the Pieve Vecchia di Scotriano, Antonio Chiocchini di Livorno built a villa with an adjoining oratory toward the end of the 18th century. The ancient pieve is incorporated into a private villa.

There is also a landscape feature to help orient visitors: the Torrente Vallinucci rises at the northern edge of the municipal area, in the locality of Pieve Vecchia. Thus, the area's history brings together ecclesiastical sites, later buildings, and a named water source, without implying a specific visitor route.

Orciano Pisano: Wine and Natural History

The Pisan Hills Wine Trail follows the roads around Orciano Pisano and connects businesses and local food and wine producers. Orciano produces, among other wines, Chianti DOCG and Bianco Pisano di San Torpè DOC. These connections complement the historical themes with regional products and links to local producers.

Orciano Pisano also has a connection to paleontology: the fossilized skeleton of a baleen whale that lived three million years ago was found and excavated in the hills there in 2007. The ten-meter-long skeleton is on display at the Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia. This extends the focus beyond church and building history to natural history.

Choosing the Right Type of Accommodation

One specific accommodation option is Casa la Pieve Vecchia, Rubino apartment. The country house was formerly part of the private La Pieve Vecchia farm. The apartment is offered as an entire place with one bedroom and four sleeping places. If you are specifically looking for a hotel, consider apartments as a separate type of accommodation. Check the current availability and terms before booking.

For the broader travel overview: Orciano Pisano.