Lorenzana: Villa Giuli, Chapels and Traces of the Former Castle

San Bartolomeo Apostolo is classified as a pievania in Lorenzana. In Lorenzana’s historic centre, Villa Giuli and its park are of particular historical, architectural and functional value. The location of Crespina Lorenzana offers views across the entire profile of the Pisan Hills. For a stay, the town centre and the hilly landscape can be considered separately.

Villa Giuli, Ridge and Gardens

Villa Giuli has an elongated shape and follows the ridge on which it stands in some places. It is surrounded by a park with old trees and by two gardens. The rose garden lies to the east, while the hanging palm garden lies to the west. Spatial planning around the villa must therefore take into account both the ridge and the east–west arrangement of the gardens.

Chiesino Giuli and Family Chapel

The Chiesino Giuli chapel in Palazzo Sgrilli once contained a valuable painting of the Descent from the Cross. The Pisan painter Marianini created it in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the chapel has been deconsecrated and belongs to the municipality. The Lorenzani family chapel is dedicated to Saint Peter of Alcantara.

The Former Castle and Its Finds

The castle of Lorenzana was destroyed by the Florentines in the 15th century. During excavations of the foundations at its former site, a halberd, spears, a ring and iron balls were found; they are regarded as evidence of the former castle.

Terracotta Plaque at the Fontina del Cimitero

A terracotta plaque depicting the risen Christ is set into the Fontina del Cimitero. Angela Gatti Pellegrini created it in 1986. The artist was a painter, writer and sculptor.

Measurement Plaque, Hills and Provisional Routes

A plaque was installed in Lorenzana in 1877. It contains conversions between the old Pisan units of measurement and the metric decimal units introduced at that time. When planning your trip, you can consider Villa Giuli and the castle finds as local points of interest, while the views of the Pisan Hills represent a landscape aspect.

For hiking plans, the Cammino d'Etruria Pisa–Volterra remains a project with an open status. Its route is currently being reviewed, and Lorenzana is one of the villages the trail is intended to pass through. GPX tracks and further information on using the trail are to be published once the review has been completed. The announced materials must therefore still be awaited for detailed stage planning; Lorenzana is intended to be a village along the route, but the trail’s course has not yet been conclusively reviewed.

A guided nature walk was scheduled to take place in Lorenzana on 1 April. The programme included identifying and collecting wild herbs.

Lari, Crespina, Terricciola, Navacchio, Castellina Marittima, Bientina, Santa Luce, Orciano Pisano

For the main travel overview: Pisa.