Pieve di San Giovanni Decollato a Cornacchiaia

The Church of San Giovanni Decollato in Cornacchiaia, in the municipality of Firenzuola, has an ancient and fascinating history that intertwines with the religious and social life of the local community. Its name recalls the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, beheaded by order of Herod, a cult particularly felt in the Apennine areas, where the saint was often associated with the protection of travelers and shepherds. The parish church was built on the ancient route that, probably of Etruscan origin, led from Fiesole to Felsina (modern-day Bologna). According to tradition, it was founded by San Zanobi between the 4th and 5th centuries on a Roman temple. During the floor renovation works carried out in 1974, artifacts from that era were found, confirming the presence of an ancient structure. The current complex is said to have been built by Matilde di Canossa, who dedicated it to Santa Maria; in reality, the building dates back to the second half of the 12th century, contemporary to the church of Sant'Agata with which it shares numerous architectural details. The dedication to San Giovanni Decollato began in the 14th century when the area fell under Florentine influence. In 1640, due to the poor conditions of the church caused by water infiltrations, construction began on a new temple in the Cà di Mercato area. However, the project was abandoned due to the same infiltration problems, and it was decided to restore the old parish church. In 1641, Vincenzo Muratori, known as il Maestrino, carried out an inspection and a report in rhyme describing the church's conditions and the necessary works. It was not until 1778 that the Florentine chapter decided to proceed with the restoration of the parish church. The apse and the presbytery were demolished, the lintel on the columns was dismantled, and a masonry with arches was built to stabilize the building. The sides of the roof were lowered, giving it a gradient appearance instead of the original pitched roof shape. In the early 20th century, further restoration works were carried out, including the reconstruction of the presbytery and internal painting decoration. The façade features a portico supported by four columns and two side walls, which once housed the cemetery for children and widows. The main portal has jambs decorated with an interlacing motif, and on the right one, there are twelve carved studs, symbolizing the apostles. The lintel has the same decoration with a Greek cross in the center. The portal, dating back to the Romanesque church, has decorations symbolizing the flow of time towards Christ or the intertwining of human and divine. In the lunette, there is a Christ Pantocrator, a work by Pittaco dated 1903. Another portal, on the north wall, has a round arch with a tympanum decorated with symbols of the evangelists. This was walled up during the Grand Duchy era to prevent clashes among the inhabitants. On the right side of the façade, there is a checkerboard triangle, once also present on the left side, probably with a protective function against evil influences or as a reference to the city's Romanesque decorations. Inside, on the counterfacade, there are two columns with carved capitals: one depicts two eagles with outspread wings and a human mask over a coiled snake, while the other shows a struggle between animals or between an animal and a man. The internal structure has three naves delimited by six pillars, which once supported a lintel. The interior furnishings were made between the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Don Stefano Casini, who restored the church, built a new presbytery, and had the side chapels and the main altar vault frescoed by the painter Antonio Pittaco. During the 1974 restoration, a single lancet window was uncovered in the left chapel, parts of the ancient apse, and sections of the original masonry. The bell tower, built on an ancient Lombard tower, houses a medieval bell.

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