Parish church of San Martino in Barisano The parish church of San Martino in Barisano is an ancient church, originating in the 6th century AD, which probably stood on the remains of an earlier early Christian basilica. There are reports of the existence of a castle, or small fortress, which, according to sources, was called the castle of Barigiano as early as 992. According to tradition, Matilda of Canossa stayed in the castle and had a parish church erected there. Actually, the history of this Pieve, is much older and dates back to Roman times. The mosaic decorations found on the old floor, two meters below the present floor level, bear witness to this: braided border and design of flowers and leaves are secular decorative motifs and most likely can be identified with the floor of a manor house ("villa"). Thanks to an impressive restoration, polychrome floor mosaics dating from the 6th century, the 9th-10th century crypt, and valuable late medieval frescoes have been unearthed. After the Council of Trento, the structure of the parish church was modified, knocking down the apse and reducing the space originally intended for the faithful, to make a rectory with accommodation for the parish priest who was to reside there. In the 1930s, the then parish priest noticed traces of arches and, removing the plaster, discovered a mullioned window above the sacristy windows and 10th-century frescoes, depicting a choir of saints and holy men and women in Byzantine style, in his own bedroom. The parish was not fully restored until the late 20th century and reopened in 2000. Archaeological excavation uncovered some artifacts and the 9th-10th century crypt, while frescoes were found on the walls including the 14th century 'Saint Martin on Horseback Donating the Cloak' and a fragment of the 'Madonna and Child'.
