Pieve dei SS. Tommaso e Ansano Castelvecchio

"A beautiful, small, Romanesque parish church. It likely dates from the 12th century, although some mentions are even earlier.

A stone basilica, oriented (with the chancel facing east). The eastern façade is enriched by three apses; the western façade has the main entrance.

To the east of the chancel is a freestanding bell tower, also Romanesque. The clock strikes the hours and chimes every half hour.

To the west of the church is a modest monument, an obelisk commemorating the victims of World War I."

Paweł Piotr Sucholeski

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to visit the interior, but you can do so by calling a cell phone number listed on a small sign on the Pieve's door.
Its origins date back to the Lombard era; the first documented reference appears to date back to 879 AD, when the bishop of Lucca, Gherardo, granted (with a formal contract) some of the parish's property to two brothers, thus certifying its existence. Since then, the importance of the parish has been well documented by countless other documents, which attest to its centrality not only religiously but also juridically. A turning point in the history of the parish church was marked by the establishment of the Diocese of Pescia in 1519. While until then the church had maintained a centralized role, governing numerous minor parishes located in neighboring towns (for example, San Frediano di Aramo, San Martino a Medicina, Sant'Andrea di Pontito, and San Pietro a Lucchio), from that moment on it was included in the new Diocese, thus inexorably losing its importance.
I'm including some photos; those depicting the interior I found online."

Andrea Pompilii

"The Parish Church of Saints Ansano and Tommaso is located in Castelvecchio di Pescia, in what is known as the Svizzera Pesciatina... on the route of the 10 Castella. But let's proceed in order. The Parish Church is located outside the village, in an elevated and dominant position, and is very ancient (hypotheses regarding its construction range between the 9th and 12th centuries). It is based on an ancient document from 879 AD and from surveys carried out beneath the Church... it was certainly a point of reference for the entire Valleriana. In fact, based on its location and proximity to an ancient road that connected Pescia to Lucchio (a branch of the Via del Brennero), it has been hypothesized that it was a passage point for pilgrims on the Via Francigena (the presence of symbols such as the shape of an inverted 8, symbolizing infinity, some figures in the capitals, and the reference to the number 3 would suggest this). The parish church, in Lombard-Romanesque style, was built with stone from nearby quarries by craftsmen from Pisa and Lucca and faces east, as was the ancient custom. This allows, during the summer solstice (9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. solar time), a beam of light to strike the entrance to the crypt, located beneath the presbytery. Legend has it that it arose on the site where Saint Ansanus retreated to pray. During the winter solstice, a ray of light illuminates the interior of the crypt. The façade features zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures, but above all, three figures, present both on the façade and the back, perhaps representing Jesus with the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene; perhaps God with Adam and Eve, or simply praying... it is unknown. According to popular tradition, it is instead the "White Death." The central figure is said to be the master bricklayer who died falling from the building, perhaps at the hands of the devil, depicted in the monstrous figures below. This is intended to commemorate the sacrifice of those who lost their lives building the House of God. The interior, with three naves, is punctuated by columns with decorated capitals and round arches. The presbytery is elevated above ground level and is accessed via side stone stairs. Below the presbytery is the magnificent crypt. The roof is trussed. It was first restored in 1875, when the parish church was declared a National Monument, then during the two world wars, and in modern times, between 1978 and 2006. During various interventions, the Baroque altars were removed to restore the structure to its original state; the façade was rebuilt and the main staircase was removed in favor of side staircases, which overall retained the Lombard-Romanesque style, but... the restoration... was so-so. The 14th-century triptych, perhaps by Nanni di Jacopo, was in very poor condition and was removed and replaced with a copy. The bell tower, only 13 meters high, is likely a Roman-era watchtower and is detached from the main body of the parish church. Its decline began in 1519, when the Diocese of Pescia was established. The village is also interesting. Its layout is fan-shaped, perched for defensive reasons, with a single entrance door (the hinges are still present) leading to a maze of streets. Here is the Church of San Giovanni Battista. Of note is a 16th-century altarpiece (Madonna and Child with Saints John and Thomas) from the parish church, and a 17th-century Suffering Christ. Below the church, accessed via a slip road, is the Oratory of the Holy Rosary. Entirely decorated with stories of Christ and the Virgin, the frescoes were made visible during some local events. In 2007, a meticulous restoration was funded, allowing us to appreciate this little gem today. Until the 20th century, the Oratory was home to the Compagnia del SS Rosario, then in 1980 it passed to the Misericordia di Castelvecchio. The area is called Svizzera Pesciatina (Pesciatina Switzerland) because it was named after the Swiss exile Sismonde de Sismondi, perhaps feeling at home there... it was the 18th century."

Michele De Gruttola