The hamlet of Parlascio, today a hamlet of Casciana Terme, is said to have been founded by Matilda of Canossa, the same as the legend of the blackbird linked to the discovery of the Casciana Spa. The first document of its existence dates back to 1193. Its name means ‘amphitheatre’ and derives from the morphology of the territory, which offers one of the most striking views of the Pisan Hills. In the area above the church of SS Quirico and Giuditta are the remains of the Rocca, the subject of an excavation campaign that is bringing to light interesting finds, including from Etruscan times. Many of these relate to wine amphorae, others to imported ceramics.
The small Romanesque Church of Saints Quirico and Giuditta dates back to 1260, but was damaged in the violent earthquake of 1846. The façade was originally decorated with ceramic basins in line with the oriental influence in Pisan churches, which are now preserved in the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo. Restorations have allowed the discovery of important frescoes that were previously covered by plaster. These include the Volto Santo (Holy Face) by Bartolomeo da Ceppato, where Christ wears a tunic typical of priests in the early medieval period. Inside there is also a bust of the Madonna del Latte. The church has a panoramic view that sweeps from the Pisan Hills to Volterra.