Sillano between Churches, Pass History and Nature

Anyone choosing Sillano as a travel destination will find a place whose distinctive character can be understood above all from two perspectives: its historical role as a route across the mountains and the cultural and natural features that shape the town and its surroundings. You can focus your stay more strongly on churches and the town’s traditional history, or place the emphasis on protected landscapes and Lake Vicaglia.

Sillano and its historical role as a route

In the Middle Ages, the village of Sillano was a strategic transport link. For a long time, Sillano was one of the few passes connecting central Italy with northern Italy. This past gives the town a historical dimension that extends beyond individual buildings: Sillano also represents a connection between different parts of Italy. If you are interested in local history, it is therefore worth considering not only individual sights, but also the former importance of the town as a transport route.

Churches with their own history

The Chiesa del Carmine takes you back to the architectural history of the 16th century. Construction work on the oratory began on 26 March 1580. The present building has preserved almost all of its original sandstone architectural elements. These include cornerstones, cornices, door and window surrounds, and lintels. The Chiesa del Carmine is also the second-oldest church in Sillano Giuncugnano. A different historical story is associated with the Chiesa della Madonna del Ponte. The people of Sillano completed its construction in just three years. The church was built at the place where, according to tradition, a painting of the Madonna with San Nicolao and San Biagio shed tears for several days on 6 August 1730. An ancient Latin inscription is also still visible inside the church of S. Bartolomeo in Sillano. It adds another historical trace to the churches of Sillano and offers a specific reason to pay attention during your visit to preserved details, rather than only to the exterior form of a building.

Tradition and landscape in the surrounding area

The Fiera di Sant’Antonio includes a procession through the streets of Sillano. The fair takes place on the Sunday after the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua on 13 June. In this way, a local tradition is directly connected with the town and its streets. The Orecchiella Park is ideal for nature-focused days. The protected nature reserve extends, among other areas, across the municipalities of Piazza al Serchio, San Romano, Sillano and Villa Collemandina. Near Sillano, there is also Lake Vicaglia on the municipal road connecting Sillano with the Orecchiella Park. The lake has steep banks and is surrounded by well-maintained chestnut forests. Lake Vicaglia is also a fishing destination. Its waters are classified as salmonid waters, and brown trout are caught there. If fishing is one of your interests, this is a clearly identifiable feature of the surrounding area. For other nature-focused days, the combination of the protected nature reserve, lake, shores and chestnut forests takes centre stage. For further orientation, you can also visit the local pages Capanne and Villa.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Torre, Piaggiori, Forte Dei Marmi, Villa Collemandina, Porcari, Molazzana.