Church of San Rocco

The village of Casoli di Camaiore, the ancient Casule, is perched on a hill in the valley of the Lombricese stream and is mentioned for the first time in a document dated 9 May 984 even though the Romans, in 160 AD, and prehistoric populations, even earlier, had inhabited the area. There is certain information about the original single-hall church from the second half of the sixteenth century and it became an independent parish on 20 October 1609. In the mid-19th century, given its age and inadequacy due to the increase in population, it was decided to expand the church to three naves but, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was closed due to the instability of the ground and, reopened in 1913, was completely demolished due to the serious damage suffered in the earthquake of 7 September 1920. Today, only the 17th century bell tower remains of the old church.
The current church, dedicated to San Rocco, was built by a private individual in the mid-nineteenth century in the Colletti area, as a private chapel for his villa.
The rectangular façade is articulated by a classically inspired architectural apparatus, in mortar, where pairs of pilasters, in Ionic style, configure it as a single span framed by a round arch, in the center of which opens the entrance portal, framed in marble and concluded at the top by a triangular pediment. In the upper part of the façade, two overlapping pseudo-gables were created in the shape of a blind arch, slightly splayed and coffered in the archivolt. The building, with a rectangular plan with the major axis oriented to the west, has a single hall divided into three spans by a system of semi-pillars and is concluded by a semicircular apse; the interior is marked by an architectural stucco layout, in Corinthian style, with semi-pillars that divide the hall into three cross-vaulted spans.


Facade
The rectangular façade is resolved and articulated by an architectural apparatus in mortar, where pairs of pilasters, in Ionic style, configure it as a single span concluded by an entablature, which frames a round arch, splayed in slight depth, with coffered ceilings in the archivolt. In the center is the entrance portal framed in marble and concluded at the top by a triangular pediment supported by brackets. Beyond the entablature, there is a low attic on which are placed acroterial vases and in the center a statue of the Virgin. To conclude the façade, a pseudo pediment or pseudo fastigium was erected in the form of a blind arch, slightly splayed and coffered in the archivolt.

Plant
The building has a rectangular plan shape, with the major axis oriented from west to east and the entrance in the latter position. The interior, with a single hall, is divided into three bays by a system of semi-pillars and ends with an apse.

Presbytery
The presbytery is housed in the last bay and is raised by two steps from the floor of the hall.

Structural system
The structural parts of the building consist of continuous masonry, pillars, transverse arches, beams, vaults and wooden floors.

Coverings
The roof covering is made of terracotta tiles and bricks.

Floors and paving
The building is paved with white and grey marble.

Decorative elements
The interior of the building is marked and articulated by a plastic architectural layout in stucco, in Corinthian style, which sees semi-pillars dividing the hall into three bays, and pilasters, flanked by the semi-pillars, framing blind arches. The bays of the hall are cross-vaulted, while the apse basin is decorated with coffers.

Choir
Placed on the counter-façade, it is supported by two Ionic style columns; the parapet extends in the central part and is divided into panels.