Culla between hiking trails and history

Culla combines historical traces, hiking trails and panoramic views. The church of S. Antonio da Padova e SS. Angeli Custodi, olive groves and the trail over Monte Gabberi give the village different facets. This creates a destination where cultural discoveries and activity in the landscape come together for you.

History around the church

The church of S. Angeli Custodi stands in Culla. Within the municipality of Camaiore, La Culla is one of the historic rural settlement cores. The origins of Culla are traced back to the 16th century.

In the 17th century, Culla was divided between the State of Florence and the Republic of Lucca. A Medici boundary stone was found near the church; it marked the border of the Captaincy of Pietrasanta. The former political division thus remains anchored at a specific point in the village’s history.

The memory of the war years has also left visible signs in Culla. Volunteers set out from Culla to give the victims of the Sant’Anna massacre of 12 August 1944 a dignified burial. Next to the church stands a bronze monument created by Alfredo Belluomini in 1981. It depicts a man equipped with a helmet and rifle; the stone base bears the names of the war victims. A bronze sculpture by Romano Cosci, depicting Don Giuseppe Vangelisti, also stands near the church. A wooden cross has stood on the way to Sant’Anna since 1996 in memory of Don Giuseppe Vangelisti.

Access and trails into the mountains

The 10-kilometre mountain road to Sant’Anna di Stazzema climbs from the Versilia plain via Monteggiori and La Culla. Culla can be reached by car and on foot.

Hiking trail 107 connects La Culla with Foce di San Rocchino and leads over the scenic summit of Monte Gabberi. The detailed route runs from La Culla via Case ai Lecci to Monte Gabberi and then on to San Rocchino; the elevations for this route are 470 m, 605 m, 1108 m and 801 m. The Greppolungo – La Culla – R. Dei Pennati – Greppolungo circular route was intended for possible maintenance measures as part of municipal cooperation.

Olive terraces and panoramic views

Culla is surrounded by olive groves and olive terraces. The area offers views of the plain of Camaiore, Lago di Massaciuccoli and the coast. Together with the climb over Monte Gabberi, these landscape features shape a stay between the hills and the mountains.

The first inhabitants of Culla were workers in the local iron mines of Monte Arsiccio and Argentera.

The Festa della Madonna is a triennial tradition in Culla, held on the first Sunday in May; the next edition was scheduled for 2020.

Other places in the same area: Palagnana, Retignano, Farnocchia, Terrinca, Levigliani

To the higher-level travel overview: Stazzema.