The name “Croce” (Cross) originates from the ancient Oratorio della Croce (Oratory of the Cross) built, in the thirteenth century, by the Peruzzi, owners of most of the village houses.
Since that far-away time the township of Varliano was called La Croce or La Croce a Varliano. The name Varliano is, instead, a name of Latin origin and comes from Varilius.
