Vicopisano

On the Verruca

On the Verruca, a lower but equally strategic hilltop of the Monte Pisano, there was already from the 10th century both a rocca and an abbey.
The Abbey, like others built on summits of important hills (Val di Susa, Gargano, Normandy) was consecrated to San Michele Arcangelo and its primitive church is mentioned already in 861. The Verruca Fortress was the object of constant quarrelling in the 14th century, between Pisa and Florence, a dispute where both the Milanese and the French joined in.
In 1503-4, when it was under Florentine control, some architectural work was done following projects by Leonardo da Vinci and Antonio da Sangallo.

The wartime events in which the Rocca was involved caused the final abandoning of the monastery around the end of the 15th century. Recently, archaeological excavations have identified the area occupied by this abbey and have brought to light the remains of the abbey church and the cloister and adjoining buildings.