Varsi (PR) - Church of St. Peter the Apostle - Ceno Valley - Emilia Romagna

The current church, inaugurated in 1932, has a very strong connection to the local area. Its construction was built using stone materials recovered from the demolition of unsafe sections of the nearby Varsi Castle, the ancient fortress of the Landi family. The stones that now compose the naves therefore have a military history behind them... #tuttitaly

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Varsi (PR) - Church of St. Peter the Apostle - Ceno Valley - Emilia Romagna

Varsi rises at the foot of Monte Dosso in Emilia-Romagna.

The territory was already inhabited in the Mesolithic. The traces of some hunters' camps found in the locality of Tosca date back to this period.

Varsi Castle

The town's castle dates back to the 10th century. It was rebuilt in the 1300s on a quadrangular layout, with circular corner towers, with, inside, the central keep, the residence of the Castellan, and the parish church of San Pietro Apostolo.

Of the ancient manor, three corner towers remain, the rear residential body and the central wing, built in the 18th century.

Pieve di San Pietro Apostolo

Towards the eighth century, at the end of the current via della Pieve, the primitive parish church of San Pietro Apostolo was built, documented by the 11 Longobard parchments of Varsi. The building was destroyed in a fire in 880. After the 14th century, the parish church was rebuilt within the castle walls in Romanesque style.

Between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, the place of worship was rebuilt again in Baroque style, retaining an arch key from the ancient church decorated with a bas-relief depicting a blessing hand. In 1926, the neo-Romanesque bell tower was erected.

In 1932, the Baroque facade was replaced with the current neo-Romanesque one.

Varsi lake

At the beginning of the village, there is a small and picturesque lake framed by poplars and cypresses, famous for a legend according to which in Varsi, tens of years ago, there was an ancient monastery inhabited by about ten monks.

One night an impoverished lady with five children arrived at the monastery and asked the religious for hospitality. However, they denied her any help. At that point, the woman cast a curse. The same night the earth shook, and the monastery collapsed suddenly without a trace. The following day, instead of the monastery, the inhabitants of Varsi found a small body of water.

It is also said that at night, near the lake, strange cries of children can be heard.

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Varsi (PR) - Church of St. Peter the Apostle - Ceno Valley - Emilia Romagna