Pieve di Cozzano

The Parish Church of Cozzano, dedicated to Saints Bartholomew and Martin, is located in a position perched on the eastern slopes of Monte Pozzo from where you can enjoy the view of the most important peaks of the Parma Apennines to scrutinize the bell towers of the churches of Sasso and Tizzano.

It is no coincidence that in 1970 Marco Pellegri wrote that “the parish churches, especially the oldest, were built on the tops of the ridges in dominant and epicentre positions. The sound of their bells had to spread into the surrounding valleys and the gaze passed from bell tower to bell tower without interruption. Their location had to allow a complete dominion over the territory of pertinence”. This description gives a clear idea of the position of the Pieve di Cozzano. The first documented testimonies of the latter date back to 1005 in the “Ordo Presbiterorum Plebium” where it is mentioned.

The facade, typically Romanesque, is a hut where centrally opens the entrance portal, surmounted by an arched window and a buffered oculus. The traces of an elevation, made together with the raising of the entire structure, are clearly visible on it. The wall texture of the building is rather irregular along its entire extension and characterized by the presence of holes pontaie.

Very beautiful is the stone archivolt of the side portal dating from the eleventh century with interwoven arches and two acephalous figures.

Inside, the building has a single nave inserted between two side chapels on each side and a semicircular apse. The roof has a barrel vault with lunettes, finely decorated with plant and ornamental motifs. In the apse there is a fresco depicting the ‘Triumph of Christ’. The bell tower rises on the north-east side and has a square plan with a single lancet window on each side in the belfry.