Parlascio: Church, Etruscan Traces and Far-Reaching Views

Parlascio between Hills and History

The hills around Parlascio offer far-reaching views of the Valdera and the Pisan landscape. Vineyards, olive groves and small woods are part of this landscape. Small woods lie between open areas, while vineyards and olive groves form the agricultural sections of the hilly landscape. At the same time, Parlascio's Romanesque-Pisan church, Etruscan archaeological site and traditional castle history represent different historical perspectives. Parlascio thus combines landscape and history.

Parlascio is home to the Chiesa dei Santi Quirico e Giulitta, a small Romanesque-Pisan church with a single-nave rectangular interior. Its compact design and clearly structured interior make the church an independent example of Romanesque-Pisan architecture.

Etruscan Traces and Castle History

The Scavo Archeologico di Parlascio, an Etruscan archaeological site, is located on a high plateau in Parlascio. Among other things, a votive axe and a bronze ring were found there during the 2016 excavation campaign. The finds give the archaeological subject a concrete form and clearly distinguish it from the Romanesque-Pisan church.

A significant castle once stood in Parlascio. According to legend, it was founded by Matilde di Canossa and was of particular importance in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Castello dei Vicari is a castle in the vicinity of Parlascio. The area around Parlascio also includes Parco Preistorico Peccioli, a prehistoric or archaeological site, and the Ecomuseo dell'Alabastro, a museum. Museo Piaggio is another museum in the wider regional surroundings of Parlascio. These destinations thus represent a castle, a prehistoric or archaeological site, and museums.

Landscape, Beaches and Regional Destinations

The beaches are also located in the wider regional surroundings of Parlascio: Bagno Aurora, Bagno Ausonia, Spiagge bianche and Cala del Leone are beaches in this area. Together with the hilltop views of the Valdera and the Pisan landscape, they create a clear contrast between the inland landscape and the coast. The coast and the hilly landscape around Parlascio are therefore two separate areas that can deliberately be considered one after the other when planning a day.

A Route between Archaeology and Church

The route “Visita delle chiese del territorio – dal Medioevo ai giorni nostri” leads up a small incline to Parlascio's archaeological site and then continues to the Chiesa di San Quirico e Giulitta. For route planning, the small incline is the specific elevation section before the archaeological stop.

For day planning, the small incline and the beaches can be treated as separate activities. The beaches are located in the wider regional surroundings of Parlascio, while the cultural and historical route remains focused on the local destinations. Those who combine both themes are therefore planning one section in the hilly landscape and a separate coastal section in the wider regional surroundings. The local route and the beach destinations can consequently be planned as separate parts of the day.

Further destination: Sant'ermo.

For the overarching travel overview: Casciana Terme.