Villa Campanile: Oratory, Forest Paths and Local History

Villa Campanile combines local ecclesiastical history with paths through the Cerbaie and destinations in the surrounding area and farther afield. This makes it a destination where cultural and historical interests, nature and individual sections of the route can be combined. If you are travelling with different interests, you can choose the focus of your stay more clearly.

Faith, Art and Local History

The Oratory in Villa Campanile was dedicated to Saint Peter of Alcantara. The small oratory was opened to the public for worship on 8 December 1900 and served as a subsidiary church of the parish church of Orentano. Its connection with Orentano and its dedication to the saint give the local history a clearly recognisable religious dimension.

On 13 November 1920, a statue of Saint Peter of Alcantara was blessed and consecrated by the Bishop of Pescia, Monsignor Angelo Simonetti. When the church was restored in 1963, stone from Filettole was used for the façade, and an artistic mosaic depicting the Good Shepherd was completed.

Villa Campanile, formerly Villa di Campanile, dates back to the residence of a Franciosini di Castelfranco who owned land there in the 18th century. The Monumento ai Caduti in Villa Campanile is a stone plaque memorial to those who fell in the period after 1918 and before 1950.

Forests, Paths and Wetlands

The Via Francigena runs through the dense Cerbaie forests near Villa Campanile and then continues along the historic paved path to Galleno. In addition, section 200 of the paths of the Colline delle Cerbaie leads from Orentano to Villa Campanile. From Villa Campanile, the route follows the Via Francigena to Altopascio. The Regional Nature Reserve of Lago di Sibolla, an internationally important wetland, is also located along the route continuing from Villa Campanile.

Depending on whether you want to focus on culture, nature or a regional route, Villa Campanile can be considered as a destination in its own right or as part of a longer journey.

Nearby Destinations

In the immediate vicinity of Villa Campanile is the historic site Ospedale San Jacopo di Altopascio; the Villa Torrigiani Museum is also nearby. Other destinations include Monte Serra, Monte Cascetto, Parco della Rimembranza, the Mostra Etnografica Perm.te per un Museo Contadino della Piana di Museum and the Galleria D'Arte Bentivegna Museum.

In the wider regional area around Villa Campanile is the summit of Monte Crocefisso. The various museums, mountains, the park and the historic site thus offer several possible focuses for excursions, without limiting the local history of Villa Campanile to a single experience.

Festivals and Travel Planning

The Festa del contadino in Villa Campanile is documented for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2024.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether ecclesiastical history, forest and pilgrimage paths, the Lago di Sibolla wetland, or museums and mountains in the surrounding area are the deciding factors for you.

For the overarching travel overview: Castelfranco Di Sotto.