Giucano Between History, Hills, and Expansive Views

Among Olive-Covered Hills and Vineyards

Giucano lies among hills covered with olive trees and vineyards. A walk to Le Prade offers expansive views across the Magra Valley to the sea and the islands of Palmaria and Tino. The landscape combines the immediate impression of the wooded slopes with a wide-open horizon. The vista thus extends from the agricultural surroundings nearby to the islands in the sea. Giucano is also located on the Fosdinovo–Sarzana provincial road.

Historical Traces in the Villagescape

The existence of Giucano can first be traced back to a document from 1201. In 1393, Giucano belonged to the fiefs of the Malaspina marquises of Fosdinovo. The dates thereby mark a period of time between the first document and the fiefdom. An inscription on the old entrance arch commemorates those who fell in the world wars, while Piazza Modesto Lichene is dedicated to the partisan Modesto Lichene.

Buildings and Visual Features

Individual buildings also contribute to the area’s historical character: Palazzo Cargiolli has decorative marble elements on its windows and entrance gate. Numerous Maestà are located on the walls of the houses in Giucano. The Oratorio dei Rossi is a 17th-century building with a gable form beside the bell tower and is now deconsecrated. The Oratorio dei Rossi thus combines its 17th-century architectural form with its present-day secular status. When viewing Palazzo Cargiolli, attention is directed to the windows and entrance gate, not solely to the overall form of the building.

Church and Sacred Art

The present parish church of Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano was built in 1636. It is richly decorated with paintings; on either side of the altar there is a depiction of the Annunciation. The statues of Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano were transferred to the new church in the 19th century and placed in a wooden structure in the apse area. Those viewing sacred art will therefore find both paintings and sculptures in the parish church.

A Chapel in Santa Burlanda

A chapel in the hamlet of Santa Burlanda has a bell gable and is now located within the cemetery grounds. The bell gable and cemetery grounds describe the chapel’s external form and present-day location.

Landscape and Remembrance

The Museo Audiovisivo della Resistenza is located in a grove of centuries-old chestnut trees. In clear weather, the panorama extends from Portovenere and the Golfo dei Poeti to the Apuan Alps. Inside, the museum uses a modern audiovisual installation and multimedia materials for historical and educational explorations of the Resistance and the establishment of democracy in Italy. The outdoor setting with its chestnut grove and distant panorama thus contrasts with an interior featuring modern audiovisual interpretation. In this museum setting, observing the landscape and remembering the Resistance and democracy in Italy come together.

More Destinations for Orientation

For further travel planning, you can also view Carignano, Tendola, Borghetto-melara and Marciaso.

For the overview of the broader area: Fosdinovo.