Pieve di Santa Maria

largo Caduti per la Patria - 15058 Viguzzolo (AL)
Tel. +39 351 670.4484
E-mail: pieve@viguzzolocultura.it
http://www.viguzzolocultura.it/
https://www.cittaecattedrali.it/it/bces/107-pieve-di-santa-maria-viguzzolo

The Pieve of Santa Maria is a Romanesque construction dating from the 11th century. In the archive papers it is known as "Sancta Maria in ripa padi" to indicate its position along the course of the canal, today covered, which comes from Curone and flows through the village.
The facade is simple, decorated with hanging arches and divided by pilasters, with central round-arched door. At the centre of the facade a rounded window which, together with the small bell tower placed at the top of the tympanum, is of a later time. The interior of the church has three naves divided into four bays by quadrangular pilasters with leaning half-columns, ending in semi-circular apses; the roof, which is double sloped, is trussed. The walls have no decoration, except for fragments of fresco present in the apsidal basin, perhaps a Christ Pantocrator.
The crypt, of a period before the pieve, is located under the central apse and below the presbytery until the middle of the nave, cross vaulted and supported by six columns with cube-like capitals. During several recovery operations frescoes re-emerged below the paving of the main apse, today visible thanks to a recess left open.
The pieve preserves a wooden crucifix of the Piedmont-Lombard school dating from the mid-16th century. The recently restored Christ features a moving head which rotates on a wooden pin embedded in the neck, originally hidden by a beard and real hair.