Filicaia: Local History, Landscape and Farro

Filicaia: Landscape and Townscape

Filicaia stretches along the SR445 della Garfagnana. The town lies beyond Il Poggio in the direction of Castelnuovo. The landscape of Filicaia is characterised by dense chestnut forests, agricultural land and extensive meadows. Man-made terraces make the slopes of Filicaia suitable for agriculture. The stepped areas follow the terrain and divide the cultivated slopes. The townscape also includes a medieval town layout, meaning a historic spatial arrangement of the town. Thus, within the same area, agriculturally shaped slopes, open meadows and a historic settlement structure meet. For travel purposes, the SR445 provides the specific road connection; Il Poggio and Castelnuovo indicate the direction in which Filicaia lies. The terraces also make the agricultural character of the slopes visible where forests, agricultural land and meadows alternate in the surrounding landscape.

Church and Architectural Heritage

The Chiesa di San Rocco is the parish church of Filicaia. A parish church is the church of a parish. Villa Turri was built in the 19th century in the neoclassical style. Neoclassical refers to a style oriented towards the classical formal language. The medieval town layout and Villa Turri therefore do not belong to the same historical period. The Chiesa di San Rocco and Villa Turri complement the townscape with an ecclesiastical reference and a 19th-century building.

The Via del Volto Santo

Filicaia lies on the Via del Volto Santo, a branch of the Via Francigena. The Via del Volto Santo is considered a medieval mountain route that connected Lunigiana and Garfagnana with Lucca. The historic route therefore extends beyond Filicaia and includes Lunigiana, Garfagnana and Lucca. For a culturally and historically oriented trip, the Via del Volto Santo can be considered a separate focus alongside the townscape and buildings.

Monumento ai Caduti di Filicaia

The Monumento ai Caduti di Filicaia is considered a work by Guido Cheli. It was erected in 1925 and inaugurated in November of the same year. The monument depicts a naked infantryman wearing a helmet and carrying a dagger, as well as an eagle at the top. The monument is made of locally sourced white marble, was restored in 1978 and inaugurated again on 5 November of the same year. The Monumento ai Caduti di Filicaia is located on Via Francesco Vecchiacchi in Filicaia.

Farro and a Local Event

Farro cultivation is widespread in Filicaia. Farro is a type of grain; the Festa del Farro focuses in particular on Farro della Garfagnana, part of the rich local gastronomic tradition. Every evening of the event, the Festa del Farro includes live performances and musical entertainment for an audience of all ages. The festival thus combines regionally characteristic farro with an evening programme of performances and music.

For another destination in your travel plans, you can also visit Casciana.

For the overview of the wider itinerary: Camporgiano.