Church of Santa Maria Assunta

The small cluster of houses of Metato is perched on the slopes of Mount Prana in a panoramic position over the entire Camaiore valley. The name of the town derives from the typical 'metati', small buildings for drying chestnuts.
The church, an autonomous curate since 1617, was rebuilt in the same year on the remains of the previous one. In 1796 it was restored and expanded, with the addition of a side chapel, in 1883.
The gabled façade, entirely plastered, is covered, for a good part of the right half, by the pre-existing watchtower, later used as a bell tower and remodeled in the 19th century. The moulded lines with dentils of the eaves are supported by a series of small ogival hanging arches. In line with the ridge opens the portal, framed in stone, surmounted by a lunette and, still above, there is a mullioned window made after the installation. The wall is painted with bands of dichromatic, yellow and red, while the architectural projections are painted in grey.
The building, rectangular in plan, with the major axis oriented to the northwest, has a single-hall interior divided into five bays, with the main chapel at the back defined by a system of columns, a small apse and a side chapel. The interior is defined by an architectural apparatus with pilasters, in Doric style, dividing the hall into three bays; it is covered by a barrel vault with nails.

Facade
The gabled façade, entirely plastered, is covered, for almost a good part of the right half, by the bell tower, built in the 17th century, adhering to the façade. Under the moulded lines, with dentils of the eaves, there is a series of small ogival hanging arches. The façade plane is closed, on the left side, by a pilaster. In line with the ridge opens the portal, framed in stone, and surmounted by a lunette. Above is a mullioned window crowned by a moulding with dentils that recalls the eaves. The wall is painted with dichromatic, yellow and red bands, while the architectural projections are painted in grey.

Plant
The building has a rectangular plan shape, with the major axis oriented from north-west to south-east and the entrance in the latter position. The interior has a single hall, divided into five bays with the main chapel, positioned at the back, defined by a system of columns, a small apse and a side chapel.

Presbytery
The presbytery is housed in the main chapel and is raised by one step from its floor.

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

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

Floors and paving
The building is paved with concrete tiles, painted black and white, arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

Decorative elements
The interior of the building is marked and articulated by a plastic architectural apparatus, which sees Doric-style pilasters dividing the hall, covered by a barrel vault with nails, into three bays. The main chapel, on the other hand, is defined by two columns, also in Doric style, which together with a transverse arch, configure a serliana motif repeated on the back wall by homologous pilasters, so that the space is barrel-vaulted with nails, similar to the hall.

Choir
The choir, located on the counter-façade, is supported by two columns. The parapet extends in the central portion and is divided into mirrors.

Bell tower
The bell tower, built in the 17th century, certainly on the basis of a previous tower, is placed in adherence to the façade that covers almost half of it. Built in exposed stone blocks, it shows large single-lancet openings, which over time have been filled in and reduced to simple rectangular openings, left open only in the terminal part with the bell cell.