Casabasciana – Churches, Oratories and Religious History

Casabasciana Between Parish Churches, Oratories and Ancient Traditions

Casabasciana reveals its character above all through religious buildings, works of art and festivals whose history is closely connected with the village. The Romanesque parish church, the oratories at the upper end of the village, the veneration of Saint Primo and historical traces dating back to the Middle Ages shape the appearance of the village.

The Parish Church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta

The Romanesque parish church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta in Casabasciana has three naves and eight columns with capitals bearing symbolic motifs. Its furnishings include an organ by Evaristo Santarlasci from 1890. The altarpiece depicting the martyrdom of Saints Quirico and Giulitta is attributed to Giovan Domenico Lombardi, known as “l’omino”. The mortal remains of Saint Primo are kept beneath the main altar.

The history of the village is also connected with this ancient parish church. It was founded along an ancient road that connected the Val di Lima with the Valdinievole via Battifolle. A fortification in Casabasciana may have already existed in 1165.

Oratories and Religious Art

At the upper end of Casabasciana stands the Oratorio del Murrotto. An image of the Madonna del Murrotto has been venerated there for more than 300 years. Also at the upper end of the village is the Oratorio dell’Assunta, built in 1691 by the local residents Sebastiano Laurenzi and Giovanni Marraccini. Both places add independent religious testimonies to the character of Casabasciana and make clear that the history of the village is visible not only in a single church building.

The Pieve Vecchia lies southwest of the village and is a rather secluded religious building. In the vicinity of Casabasciana, beyond Corona, there is also the ancient 13th-century church of San Michele in Matriceto. The Romanesque parish church, the Oratorio dell’Assunta from 1691 and San Michele in Matriceto from the 13th century thus belong to different historical periods.

Festivals with a Special Connection to the Village

The veneration of Saint Primo is also part of Casabasciana’s festival history. His relics arrived in Casabasciana on Whit Sunday in 1833. Every five years, on the second Sunday in August, Casabasciana celebrates San Primo with festive illumination of the village and fireworks at the end of the day.

On 15 August, Casabasciana celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in honour of the Madonna del Murrotto with a Mass and the praying of the Rosary. On 16 August, an evening meal with music takes place in Piazza Cavour in Casabasciana. In August, religious celebration and community gathering thus come together on two consecutive days.

Casabasciana can be reached from the del Brennero state road via the turn-off near Fabbriche di Casabasciana.

Further destinations on the same level: Longoio-Mobbiano, Fornoli, Benabbio, Lucchio, Granaiola, Montefegatesi, Lugliano and Scesta.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bagni Di Lucca.