Filettole on the Serchio: History, Hills and Il Padule

Between the Serchio, hills and protected landscapes

Filettole lies on the right bank of the Serchio, opposite Ripafratta. Its location connects the river landscape with the hills around Filettole, Vecchiano and Avane. The Serchio provides a clear geographical reference point, while the hilly landscape helps shape the appearance of Filettole.

One of the defining natural areas is Il Padule, a wetland of approximately 33 hectares within the area covered by the collective-use rights of the districts of Vecchiano, Avane, Nodica and Filettole. The area is entirely protected by the Migliarino–San Rossore–Massaciuccoli Regional Park. The nearby Marina di Vecchiano is also located within this regional park.

At Sassi Grossi, orchids, rockroses and other naturally occurring herbaceous plants bloom in spring. Falasco, botanically known as Cladium mariscus, was traditionally used in the area covered by the collective-use rights of Vecchiano, Avane, Nodica and Filettole to weave seats, bottles and demijohns.

Historical traces in the town center

Filettole preserves a historic town center whose layout and building types are more similar to those of the area around Lucca. The Church of San Maurizio is documented among the possessions of Lucca Cathedral before the year 1000. Inside, there is a fresco cycle by Luigi Ademollo. The Cippo di Laiano is a memorial in Filettole on Via di Filettole.

The Castellaccio was built in the Middle Ages over an earlier convent for women dedicated to Santa Viviana. The Torre Segata is the ruin of the medieval Torre dell’Aquila; only half of its wall structure remains.

Trails with different profiles

The “Da Filettole alle tre vallate lucchesi” route is classified as easy, takes 3 hours and begins in the center of Filettole on Via di Castello. At three hours, this tour is the longer of the two easy routes; consequently, a larger time frame should be allowed for day planning. The “Da Filettole alla Torre segata” route is also easy: it takes 2 hours, likewise starts in the center on Via di Castello and has an uneven final section. The two-hour duration and the uneven final section are equally relevant when assessing the route’s progression across the terrain. When comparing the two options, the main differences are therefore their duration and trail conditions. For the two Filettole routes, the choice consequently depends on the time available and the preferred trail conditions.

The “Da Filettole agli Ulivi di Padule” route begins in the center of Filettole and climbs uphill along Via del Castello. The uphill start defines the first section of this route. It passes through a natural landscape crossed by the Rio del Bucine valley. The paths through the hills of Filettole, Vecchiano and Avane can be covered by bicycle or on foot.

The “Strada dell’Olio del Monte Pisano” also begins in the Vecchiano area and leads to Buti.

For the broader travel overview: Vecchiano.