Pian di Molino: Village, Bridge and Apuan Alps

Pian di Molino is a very small village with a few stone houses. Its panorama includes a stream, fields and the Apuan Alps in the background. The village scene also includes the Oratorio di Sant’Antonio Abate at the eastern edge of the settlement and a distinctive humpback bridge over the Aulella. The focus here is on landscape, village scale and architectural history.

Village Character and Landscape

The few stone houses give Pian di Molino an intimate scale. The stream, fields and mountain backdrop of the Apuan Alps are its defining landscape features. If you are considering a place to stay, you can compare this character with your own plans for Tuscany: a very small village offers a different focus from a trip centered mainly on art cities, the coast or islands. For families with different interests, architectural history and landscape can be treated as two separate themes, without turning them into a fixed sightseeing itinerary.

Pian di Molino is one of the ten villages that make up the Pioero. This adds another perspective on the local setting to the immediate description of the village. Together with the few stone houses and the panorama, it gives a concrete picture of a small village—not a large city with a dense offering of sights.

Oratory and Bridge

The Oratorio di Sant’Antonio Abate marks the eastern edge of the settlement. Inside, two bays with cross vaults divide the space; a central arch separates them. A bay is a section of an interior, while a cross vault is formed by intersecting vaulted surfaces. This makes it possible to describe the oratory not only by name, but also by its specific spatial structure.

The humpback bridge at Pian di Molino displays a different form of construction. It crosses the Aulella on three shallow segmental arches, each with a span of 18.5 metres, and was built by the Malaspina of Castel dell’Aquila. The bridge is also connected to the road leading to the monastery of Monte dei Bianchi. The oratory and bridge offer different points of interest for architecture enthusiasts: the layout of an interior in one case, and a river crossing with a precisely described arch construction in the other.

The nearby Oratorio della Madonna del Popolo is also located on the road leading to Pian di Molino and the Pieve di Viano. It is another point of interest for anyone interested in religious buildings; its connection to the road places it in the local context.

Paper History on the Torrente Lucido

Paper production is also part of the village’s history. An article dated 26 March 2024 reports that the Europaper s.p.a. paper mill in Pian di Molino has been producing straw paper since the 1950s. An article from the same date cites the availability of raw materials as the reason for establishing a paper mill: straw from agriculture and water. According to the report, water was still being drawn from the Torrente Lucido at that time. This brings an industrial aspect into view alongside the village centre and its buildings.

Getting There and Routes

An undated route description estimates the drive from Fivizzano via the SS63 at about 15 minutes. Near Cormezzano, the route branches off into the Lucido Valley and continues via Gassano and Gragnola. As road conditions can change, check the route before setting out. In the provincial road network register administered as of 31 December 2023, SP 58 DIR UGLIANCALDO connects the SP 10 at Pian di Molino with the SP 58 at Mezzana.

The journey from Aulla to the starting point of CAI trail 192 in Equi Terme also passes through Fivizzano, Gassano, Gragnola and Pian di Molino. After Monzone station, the route branches off towards Equi Terme before Monzone Alto. If you are planning a hike, check the trail conditions separately before setting out.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pontremoli, Massa, Villafranca In Lunigiana, Bagnone, Corlaga, Licciana-Nardi, Podenzana, Fosdinovo.

For the main travel overview: Massa-Carrara.