Sillico among Apennine Mountains, Towers and Chestnut Trails

Sillico in the Apennines

Sillico lies on the foothills of the Apennines and overlooks the Pieve plain. Sillico includes historic buildings, including significant Renaissance palaces. The combination of its hillside location, historic buildings and paths through chestnut woods shapes the themes you will encounter when finding your way around this village.

Towers and Fortifications

In the northern part of Sillico, the remains of the defensive wall are well preserved. These remains include a lookout tower dating from the 15th century. Another square-plan tower is also located within the fortress of Sillico. This tower dates from the 12th to the 13th century and is known as the Torre castellana del Sillico.

A square-plan medieval tower stands on the hill above Sillico and is now preserved as a ruin. The tower on the hill has therefore been handed down as a separate historic structure, while the Torre castellana del Sillico is located within the fortress of Sillico.

San Lorenzo and Palazzo Carli

The parish church of San Lorenzo Martire, centrally located in Sillico, is first mentioned in a papal bull of 1168. The Church of San Lorenzo has an organ with a distinctive 8-foot principal stop. This stop is typical of the organs built by the Turrini brothers from Pieve Fosciana.

Since 2009, exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography by local and nationally renowned artists have been held in four rooms on the top floor of Palazzo Carli. The lower floor of Palazzo Carli contains a large kitchen with a stone fireplace and a bedroom with frescoes from the early 19th century.

Signposted Trails through the Landscape

The Sentiero dei Mulini near Sillico is signposted as a route with a walking time of four hours, including 475 metres of ascent and 475 metres of descent.

A 5-kilometre circular trail starts at the Sillico car park and passes through chestnut woods with metati. Some of these metati are still regularly used to dry chestnuts. Another 1.7-kilometre circular trail around Sillico passes through chestnut woods and terraced vineyards to a station associated with the religious Rogazioni rite.

Festivals, Cuisine and Music

“I banditi del Sillico” has been held annually for many years. The event is a historical and gastronomic re-enactment that brings Renaissance customs to life through music, performances and contemporary cuisine from that era. Its name and format combine historical representation with a gastronomic focus.

The Filarmonica G. Verdi in Sillico holds a concert every year for the feast of San Lorenzo. Alongside the buildings and signposted trails, a recurring annual concert and the annual event “I banditi del Sillico” are therefore among the village’s defining cultural themes.

Further destinations: Pontecosi.

To the main travel overview: Pieve Fosciana.