Ciciana between the Pizzorne Hills and Culture

Ciciana lies at the beginning of the Pizzorne Hills and combines historical evidence with trails and landscapes that can serve as points of reference for planning an individual trip. From Ciciana, the city of Lucca and the towns of the Lucca plain can be seen. This plain is surrounded by the Monti Pisani and the hills of the Valdinievole.

San Bartolomeo and the History of the Area

An important point of reference in Ciciana is the church of San Bartolomeo. Its origins date back to the Early Middle Ages; it was rebuilt in 1284. On the outside, above the entrance, there is a valuable bas-relief depicting Saint Bartholomew. Inside, the church preserves two 16th-century frescoes: a Crucifixion with Saints Roch and Frediano, and a Madonna with Saints James, Sebastian and Agatha. The church's timeline extends from its Early Medieval origins through the 1284 rebuilding to the 16th-century frescoes. Anyone interested in regional religious history, artistic details and the area's established structures will find several specific points of interest here.

The Presepe poliscenico di Ciciana

Ciciana's cultural character also includes the multi-scene Presepe poliscenico di Ciciana. It depicts scenes from the Annunciation to the arrival of the Three Wise Men, alternating between daytime and nighttime settings. The Presepe is located in the sacristy of Ciciana and, in 2023, had been on display for more than 50 years. After an interruption lasting several years, it has continued uninterrupted since 1972.

Trails through the Hills and Landscape

The trails around Ciciana also have their own distinctive character. La Sgambata del Ponte is a hiking event held in October. It passes through the panoramic hills of Ciciana and Tramonte and climbs uphill to the imposing, light-colored Convento dell'Angelo. Anyone planning to attend the event in October should consider the climb to the Convento dell'Angelo as a separate part of the route. Another point of reference is the Mulattiera di Ciciana: it passes below the church of San Bartolomeo; after a few meters, a path branches off toward the church. For hiking planning, the climb to the Convento dell'Angelo should be considered differently from the connection to the church that branches off after a few meters: one section runs uphill, while the other branches off early from the trail. The Itinerario di Tramonte–Ciciana also includes a section of Via Garfagnina that runs beyond the village of Ciciana.

When choosing a hotel in Ciciana, you can therefore first organize your personal interests: Should San Bartolomeo, with its frescoes and bas-relief, be the main focus, should the Presepe poliscenico provide the cultural focus, or should the trails, hills and views be the deciding factors? You can find the other destinations in the same destination area here: Cerasomma, San Macario In Monte, San Lorenzo A Vaccoli, Arsina, Nozzano Castello, Farneta, Piaggione and San Pietro A Vico.

For the broader travel overview: Lucca.