Villa: Churches, Circular Walks and Panoramic Views

Around Villa, local routes lead into the Brancoleria: to the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Corte, the Pieve di San Giorgio in Brancoli and the Croce di Brancoli. In addition to Romanesque church architecture, these include the road from Vinchiana to the Pieve di Brancoli, the church trail and a route through olive groves and centuries-old chestnut forests. A visit therefore combines historic religious buildings with the Croce as a panoramic viewpoint and trail landmark.

Romanesque Churches and Historic Traces

The Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Corte was first mentioned in documents in 1260. Based on its architecture and masonry, its construction is dated to the 12th century. The bell tower stands on a high arch, beneath which an old road once ran. The Romanesque Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Corte is also located in the Brancoleria on the road from Vinchiana to the Pieve di Brancoli.

In the surroundings of Villa, the Pieve di San Giorgio in Brancoli stands on the slopes of the gentle elevations leading to the Pizzorne Plateau. From the churchyard, there is a view across the plain of Lucca and the Serchio River. Historically, it was consecrated by Pope Alexander II in 1062 and elevated to a Pieve, meaning a parish church, in 1097. Its location on the slopes differs geographically from the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Corte on the road from Vinchiana to the Pieve di Brancoli.

Those interested in culture can combine the Pieve's consecration history with the view from the churchyard across the plain of Lucca and the Serchio River.

Panoramas and Trails through the Brancoleria

The new Croce di Brancoli was inaugurated on 23 August 1958 and is 18.40 metres high. In the surroundings of Villa, it is a panoramic viewpoint on a spur, with views across the Serchio Valley and the plain of Lucca. The inauguration of the new Croce in 1958 belongs to a significantly more recent period than the dating of the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Corte to the 12th century.

The Croce di Brancoli is also the highest point of the Romanesque church trail through the Brancoleria. A hiking route in the Brancoleria leads through olive groves and centuries-old chestnut forests to this panoramically situated destination.

Circular Routes between Church and Landscape

If you are planning a circular route ending with a visit to a church, one route through the Brancoleria ends in front of the Pieve di Brancoli and includes a final visit there. In the surroundings of Villa, the Pieve di San Giorgio in Brancoli is considered an important stop on a Romanesque circular tour in the upper Tyrrhenian area.

The Chiesa stands on the road from Vinchiana to the Pieve, the Pieve on the slopes leading to the Pizzorne Plateau, and the Croce on a spur with views across the Serchio Valley and the plain of Lucca.

As another place to include in your travel plans, you can also view Capanne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sillano.