Querce: Sanctuary, Forests and Pilgrimage History

Querce between Sanctuary and Forest

In Querce, in the municipality of Fucecchio, stands the Santuario della Madonna della Querce, also known as the Santuario di Querce. It is nestled in the green forests of the Cerbaie, a few kilometres from Fucecchio.

The Santuario della Madonna della Querce was built between 1637 and 1639. La Cellina, a small chapel and shrine built over a spring, soon became a destination for pilgrims. At the site of the Madonna della Querce, a medieval church dedicated to the martyr Nazarius has been documented since 866.

Religious History in Tangible Traces

On 18 May 1637, a register was begun there in which the graces attributed by the faithful to the Virgin were recorded. In 1876, Bishop Pio Alberto Del Corona declared the water of La Cellina miraculous by episcopal decree. In 1639, the painting of the Madonna di Viterbo was also transferred from the small building that had previously stood there to the main altar of the new church. The year 1639 thus links the construction of the sanctuary with the transfer of the painting to the main altar of the new church.

Paths through the Cerbaie

For exploring the surrounding area on foot, the Sentiero della Beatitudine is the main route. It is considered a short walking trail through the Cerbaie forests, shaped by nature, history and legends. La Cellina can be reached from Via della Cellina along a road reserved exclusively for pedestrians. It begins behind the sanctuary and the cemetery.

Two further walks focus on different landscapes. One ran through the oak forests around Lago della Cellina. Another led through the Cerbaie forests in the village of Querce to the edge of the Padule di Fucecchio. The route references therefore take you through both the immediate woodland landscape and the transition to the wetland.

Another route is the Anello di Crocialoni e Docce loop trail. It leads from the Antica Cellina delle Querce to several lakes between the Cerbaie hills and the Padule di Fucecchio. For choosing a route, the trail format is a practical distinction: the Sentiero is considered a short walking trail, while the Anello di Crocialoni e Docce is a loop trail to several lakes between the Cerbaie hills and the Padule di Fucecchio.

Querce and the Padule di Fucecchio

Querce also has a serious historical connection with the Padule di Fucecchio. Querce was one of the districts of the municipality of Fucecchio affected by the Padule di Fucecchio massacre, which took place on 23 August 1944. This historical connection stands alongside the religious traces of the sanctuary and La Cellina, as well as the paths through the Cerbaie. Visitors to Querce can therefore consider sacred history, woodland landscapes and the memory of a specific event together.

More places to discover: Galleno.

For the main travel overview: Fucecchio.