Church of San Pietro in Valdottavo
The building, dating back to the 12th century, underwent several changes over time
The church of San Pietro in Valdottavo was built in a dominant location in Borgo a Mozzano. The impressive building is an interesting example of the techniques usually employed in urban centres being put to use in a rural area. The similarities with the church of Sant'Alessandro Maggiore in Lucca testify to the presence of artisans working indiscriminately in cities and in rural areas over the course of the 12th century.
The church is built on a Latin-cross plan with three naves and a semi-circular apse. The inside is illuminated by two series of single windows that open up along the naves and is decorated by an extraordinary series of architectural capitals.
In modern times the church underwent a series of renovations to be adapted to the new liturgical requirements and the new Baroque taste: thus, a transept was added on the north side, divided into small aisles by two pillars, and large windows were opened to replace the monofora windows. Instead, to a later period dates the construction of the new rectangular-plan apse, that reached in height the level of the central nave.
