Cerageto: Gardens, San Martino and the Route to Passo delle Radici

Cerageto has a distinctive village character: the settlement lies on a slope, its gardens shape the landscape, and the imposing church of San Martino Vescovo is surrounded by houses. At the same time, Cerageto lies on Provincial Road 72, which climbs towards Passo delle Radici. Those taking the road route from Castiglione di Garfagnana to San Pellegrino in Alpe pass through Cerageto before reaching Passo delle Radici. The village therefore combines a clearly recognizable structure with a prominent location on a mountain road.

Gardens and local traditions

Gardening is widespread in Cerageto. The gardens are often located next to the houses and are mainly used to grow vegetables for personal consumption. Numerous gardens can be found throughout the village and its immediate surroundings. The well-kept plots blend into the village landscape and are regarded as a characteristic feature of the area. Since 2011, the municipal administration, together with local associations, has recognized Cerageto as the “Paese degli Orti”. This gardening culture is also reflected in the village’s events. In 2019, the Garden Competition had been held for 15 years. In recent years, Cerageto has also celebrated its gardens with a village festival called Festa degli Orti. “A spasso per il Borgo” is also a tasting walk in Cerageto associated with the traditional Garden Competition. Visitors therefore encounter a village setting in which vegetable growing, village life and local tasting are closely connected, without Cerageto losing its manageable scale.

San Martino and the village’s memorial sites

The parish of Cerageto is dedicated to San Martino. The village church is also dedicated to him; San Martino is celebrated in Cerageto on 11 November. The church of San Martino Vescovo stands surrounded by the village houses and thus forms a landmark directly integrated into the village structure. Cerageto’s main festival is San Lorenzo, held on 10 August. The Monumento ai Caduti di Cerageto includes a marble memorial stone on a marble pedestal crowned by a bronze eagle. The monument stands at the foot of the mountain above the village, on the north side of Piazza degli Autieri. Two plaques bearing the names of the fallen are affixed to the wall on its rear side. Another memorial plaque, the Lapide alla memoria dei Caduti per la Patria a Cerageto, is located on the left exterior wall of the church of San Martino.

Location and historical context

The location on Provincial Road 72 makes the connection to Passo delle Radici Cerageto’s key geographical reference point. On the road from Castiglione di Garfagnana to San Pellegrino in Alpe, the village lies before the pass. Historically, Cerageto’s origins remain partly a matter of research: some researchers believe that the village already existed before the 12th century and gave its name to a community. If you would like to compare other places in addition to Cerageto, you can also find Camaiore, Bagni Di Lucca, Pugliano, Verciano, Corsanico, Massarosa, Pietrasanta and Porcari.

For the overarching travel overview: Lucca.