Discover Motrone

Motrone between Rocky Cliffs and History

Motrone combines a distinctive medieval townscape with a landscape where rocky outcrops, a mountain stream, and hiking destinations are closely connected to the history of the place. The medieval village sits atop a high rocky cliff above the valley of the Turrite Cava mountain stream. Those who want to combine culture and activity on a trip will find a manageable starting point here for a variety of day trips.

The approaches already reveal Motrone’s character: the fortified medieval village preserves stone round-arched gateways at its entrances. These gates are medieval defensive elements and give the townscape a clear historical character. Above the Turrite Cava mountain stream, the ruins of Castello del Bucine also stand on a rocky outcrop. A walk through Motrone therefore offers several reasons not to view just one individual building, but to take in the location and the surviving traces together.

Church, Organ, and an Unusual Local History

One of the site’s cultural and historical highlights is the parish church of San Giusto. It was built as a fortress in 1260 and thus represents the defensive past of the village. Motrone is also home to a valuable Agati organ dating from 1864. Together with the gates, castle ruins, and medieval structure, these features create an impression that is particularly interesting for travelers who choose their accommodation not only based on the landscape but also on historical discoveries.

Motrone is also connected with the life story of Giusto Grotta. He was born on February 14, 1690, in Motrone near Lucca and joined the Capuchin order at the beginning of November 1709. This biographical thread adds a personal and religious dimension to the visible buildings. Those interested in the spiritual history of a place can therefore get to know Motrone from more than one perspective.

Hiking Destinations around Motrone

A hiking trail leads from Motrone to the Occhio di Lucca, the Torre del Bargiglio. The village is also described as a starting point for hikes to the Lavacchielli high plateau, the Romitorio di San Ansano, and the Antro del Vasaio. For your trip planning, this means that you can choose between a culture-focused day in the medieval town center and a hike to one of the destinations mentioned, without limiting your stay to just one type of experience.

The Buca del Vasaio di Motrone is also part of the area’s landscape. It lies near medieval Motrone, which is situated high above the Turrite Cava valley. A guided caving excursion to the Buca del Vasaio di Motrone announced for October 6, 2024, was open to everyone interested; no prior experience was required. You can include the Buca del Vasaio di Motrone as another destination around Motrone in your plans.

Another point of interest for hikers is the French variant of the Cammino di Assisi, which passes through Motrone. Those who would like to explore the Cammino di Assisi can take the French variant running through Motrone into account when planning their trip. If different interests come together in your travel group, you can incorporate the historical town tour, religious route connections, and landscape experiences separately into your plans.

The Right Accommodation for Your Plans

When choosing accommodation in Motrone, you can orient yourself according to your preferred pace of travel: a culture-focused stay combines the medieval townscape with the site’s cultural and historical features, while a more active stay places the hiking destinations described above at the center of your plans.

For further destinations to help with orientation, see Molazzana, Campolemisi, Pescaglia, Gramolazzo, Fabbriche Di Vallico, Casatico, Camporgiano, and Verciano.

For the main travel overview: Lucca.