Spianate – History, Museum and Polenda a Palle

Spianate between the Plain, Village History and Regional Festival Culture

Spianate combines the history of a rural settlement with an unusually extensive museum and a firmly established culinary tradition. The village developed in the large plain between Altopascio and the Cerbaie hills. This gives you a clear profile when choosing your destination: here, you will not find a loose collection of individual attractions, but rather local history, corporate history and regional festival culture in one manageable destination.

The Fapim Museum: Corporate History and Collective Memory

A central cultural attraction is the Fapim Museum at Via Chimenti 32 in Spianate di Altopascio (LU). It displays more than a thousand objects, including projects, prototypes, technical drawings, colour samples, workwear and photographs. The collection is complemented by political, sporting and cultural items dating from 1974 to the present day. The museum does not merely convey the company’s history. It also preserves the collective memory of the people connected with the company. This combination makes the visit particularly interesting for travellers who want to discover not only classical art and historic buildings, but also the social and industrial character of a place. Admission is free, but visits are only possible by prior appointment. The Fapim Museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on public holidays, throughout August and from 20 December to 10 January. If you plan to visit the museum, you should therefore take both the appointment requirement and these closing periods into account.

San Michele Arcangelo and the Development of the Village Centre

The first settlement centre of Spianate emerged in the 15th to 16th century. The church of San Michele Arcangelo was also built during this period. The first church was constructed in 1494 using materials from the Benedictine monastery of San Nazario alle Cerbaie. In 1616, San Michele Arcangelo was extended and raised with the support of the municipality of Montecarlo and Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici. Another major turning point came in 1874: a fire severely damaged the church, after which it was completely rebuilt between 1874 and 1876. This building therefore allows the history of the village to be traced across several centuries – from the formation of the settlement centre to its reconstruction in the 19th century. The present-day development of the village also includes Piazza San Michele. It was upgraded with new paving, renovated pavements and redesigned green spaces. The parking arrangements were also reorganised, the parking area was expanded, the public lighting was renewed and additional street furniture was installed.

Polenda a Palle in August

Another side of Spianate is revealed by the Sagra della Polenda a Palle. It was established in 1976 and takes place every year in August. The event runs for fifteen days and includes music, entertainment and culinary offerings. The focus is Polenda a palle, the characteristic dish of the Sagra della Polenda a Palle. It is served with rich sauces according to an old tradition from Lucca. This timing is particularly important for your travel planning: the Sagra takes place in August, while August is one of the explicitly stated exceptions to the museum’s opening hours. If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Spianate, you can therefore base your choice on your travel interests: the village’s history and San Michele Arcangelo are suited to a focus on cultural history, the Fapim Museum offers insight into corporate and commemorative culture, while the Sagra in August provides a distinct culinary occasion. For your further search, you can also open Marginone (Marginone) .

To the higher-level travel overview: Altopascio.