Fontanaluccia between the Via Matildica and bell culture

Fontanaluccia brings together mountain trails, hydraulic engineering, bell culture and memories of wartime. Those who want to get to know the village through its landscape and history will find various points of interest here: trails run through chestnut groves and along historic routes, while the church, bell tower and reservoir each offer their own themes for planning a trip.

Trails through Fontanaluccia

The Sentiero Matilde begins at the parish church of Fontanaluccia and climbs the slopes of Monte Roncadello through a chestnut grove. A section of the Sentiero dei Castagni Secolari is also known as the Sentiero del Rosario and includes the corresponding stations. This trail was initiated by Don Mauro Prandi, the parish priest of Fontanaluccia.

Stage 8B of the Via Matildica del Volto Santo passes through Fontanaluccia and follows the historic Via Bibulca, which is also called Via Imperiale. The stage is 13.8 km long and includes 1,426 metres of ascent and 756 metres of descent. These different trail details help you compare options and plan your own route.

Reservoir, lake and geological layers

The Fontanaluccia basin is an artificial lake. It is formed by a concrete dam faced with sandstone. The reservoir supplies the Farneta hydroelectric power station through a tunnel excavated into the solid rock. The geological sequence of the Cervarola is also well exposed at the reservoir, making the rock layers clearly visible there.

The small Muschioso hydroelectric power station can be seen from the Fontanaluccia reservoir. It is considered not open to visitors and thus remains part of the technical landscape, which can be understood from the outside.

Church and bell culture

The present-day church of Fontanaluccia dates from 1836. In the 19th century, two bell foundries were active in Fontanaluccia. The Giovanni Battista e Lodovico Bimbi foundry – Fonderia Bimbi – was the best known and longest-active bell foundry in Fontanaluccia.

The bell tower contains four bells named GROSSA, MEZZANA, MEZZANELLA and PICCOLA. They were cast in 1896 by the old Bimbi foundry. The Bimbi bells were highly regarded throughout the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, including the Garfagnana and Versilia. The Gruppo Campanari Fontanaluccia aims to revive the traditional Tuscan method of ringing sacred bells by hand.

Remembrance and local festivals

The Claudio partisan battalion, led by Ermanno Gorrieri, established itself in Fontanaluccia. The Fontanaluccia partisan hospital was a unique humanitarian experience involving the civilian population as well as British, American, Russian, German and Republican soldiers.

Annual San Rocco celebrations on 15 and 16 August are documented for Fontanaluccia. Together with the church, the history of the bells and memories of the partisan hospital, these festivities give the village a cultural and historical dimension that extends beyond the trail routes and technical landscape.

Planning your trip

If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Fontanaluccia, you can focus your trip on these themes: a stage with clearly stated elevation figures, trails associated with chestnuts, bell culture, or the reservoir with its geological and technical features. This allows you to connect your choice of accommodation with the interests you would like to explore more closely on site.

Further destinations

Spilamberto, San Felice Sul Panaro, Romanoro, Fiumalbo, Casumaro, Casa Marchetti, Pozza, Madonna Della Provvidenza

For the higher-level travel overview: Modena.