Villa Basilica

Villa Basilica: Paper history, trails and the Tuscan landscape

Villa Basilica combines an unusually well-documented history of paper production with trails through forests and hilly landscapes. Paper production is documented here as early as 1344. Along the Via delle Cartiere, which connects Villa Basilica with Bagni di Lucca, there are numerous paper mills of significant historical and cultural value. The road from Collodi to Villa Basilica also passes paper mills that together form an open-air museum of paper production.

The Cartiera Nardi in the hamlet of Pracando Pracando is particularly illustrative. It was built in 1863 and consists of five masonry buildings arranged over three floors. The original machinery and largely unchanged rooms document the original production process. The history of the craft also includes Stefano Franchi, a chemist and pharmacist from Villa Basilica. In 1834, he invented Cartapaglia, a straw paper.

Historic Centre and Trails into the Surrounding Area

The Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta stands in the historic centre. The church preserves a 13th-century crucifix attributed to Berlinghiero Berlinghieri. Palazzo Biscotti is another building connected with the history of Villa Basilica. The Rocca can be reached from the historic centre via an old mule track through the forest; from there, it offers expansive views over the valley. This places local history and a specific route into the landscape directly within the same narrative, without restricting Villa Basilica to a single theme.

The hills also bear traces of past work. The iron industry was active in the hills around Villa Basilica; weaponsmiths made swords and other blades for defence. Remains of a dolmen can be found near Pietra Pertusa. Archaeological excavations there also uncovered a village dating from the 3rd century BC, inhabited by the Liguri Apuani.

Pizzorne: Marked Trails, Views and Activities

The Altopiano delle Pizzorne Pizzorne has numerous marked trails leading to the nearby places of Pariana, Boveglio, Corsagna and Saltocchio. The nature-oriented landscapes described there offer expansive views over the plain of Lucca, the Monte Serra range and the sea. A hiking route of CAI Lucca leads from Villa Basilica to Pizzorne via the Via della Polla Fresca, an old mule track along the valley of the Rio della Piastrata.

For an active day out, the road cycling route “Sui primi rilievi appenninici sino a Pariana” is also listed. It begins at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in the historic centre of Villa Basilica. At Parco Avventura Sospeso nel Verde, visitors move between trees across platforms and obstacles at different heights, including walkways, ropes, Tibetan bridges, zip lines, lianas and suspension bridges.

Festivals and Regional Specialties

The Festa di Santa Maria in Villa Basilica takes place on 15 August and includes events, historical re-enactments and traditional dishes. On the Altopiano delle Pizzorne, the Sagra dei funghi e della polenta fritta has been held for many years during July and August. These dates give the town’s calendar a distinctly individual character.

The culinary heritage includes Torta di Villa Basilica, a savoury rice pie with raised triangular pieces of dough called “becchi” in the local dialect, as well as Salviato di Villa Basilica. This is a savoury pie of older origin whose main ingredient is early potatoes. Neccio flour, also known as the sweet flour of Villa Basilica, is used almost exclusively for desserts such as necci, frittelle and castagnaccio.

Further Places for Orientation

If you would like to further structure your journey through the region, you will also find San Romano In Garfagnana, Renaio, Cardoso, Gramolazzo, Gallicano and Pescaglia in the same surrounding area.

For the main travel overview: Lucca.