Capannoli: History, Museums and Landscape

Capannoli combines cultural history with natural history and views across the Valdera landscape. Villa Baciocchi, an archaeological museum and a zoological museum, theater offerings and the Fiera Nazionale degli Uccelli provide concrete points of interest for a range of visitors. Also part of the picture are the artworks in the Abbey Church of San Bartolomeo, as well as connections to wine and regional produce. If you want to plan your trip around culture, nature or regional history, you’ll find several distinct themes here that complement one another.

Villa Baciocchi and its history

Villa Baciocchi is an 18th-century building that was most likely built over the remains of Capannoli’s medieval castle. In 1833, the Baciocchi marquises inherited the villa and made substantial changes to the building and its monumental park. The villa therefore reveals several historical layers: the probable remains of the castle that preceded it and the building’s later history. There are also underground areas. These were restored and were probably created and used as cellars.

The Archaeological Museum is on the first floor of Villa Comunale Baciocchi and consists of five rooms. It presents the development of human history in the Valdera from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. Multimedia features, videos and interactive objects complement the exhibition. Reconstructions include the hut from the Neolithic village at Podere Casanuova in Pontedera and Hut B from the village of Montacchita in Palaia. The exhibits thus range from a long historical period to specific examples of reconstructed dwellings.

Archaeology and natural history compared

The Zoological Museum focuses on something different: its five rooms display more than 400 stuffed animals from around the world. These include mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and invertebrates. Some rooms use dioramas to recreate habitats featuring tigers, bears and lions. While the Archaeological Museum traces the history of the Valdera from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, the zoological collection presents animal groups from around the world. These different perspectives offer a concrete choice between regional human history and zoology on a global scale. The museums have an elevator that enables visitors with mobility impairments to access the first floor.

Theater, festival and sacred art

At the Teatro Comunale, La Scuola delle Arti offers singing, theater and music classes for all ages. The theater also organizes a season for adults and another for children. The classes and theater seasons represent two distinct aspects of theater life: practical activities on the one hand, and performances for different age groups on the other.

The Fiera Nazionale degli Uccelli takes place on the second Sunday in September and stretches from Via Volterrana to the park at Villa Baciocchi. Check the festival dates and program before your trip. The Abbey Church of San Bartolomeo contains a 17th-century wooden crucifix and a painting of the Eucharist dating from the 17th to 18th century. Another painting depicts the martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew; it dates from the 17th century and is the work of Giovan Stefano Marucelli.

Landscape views and regional products

The Telefono del Vento di Capannoli has large glass panes through which visitors can view the landscapes of Santo Pietro, Capannoli and the entire Valdera. The view therefore takes in several named parts of the landscape, rather than presenting a single place as the whole panorama.

Wine and regional produce are also part of the area’s identity: Capannoli is part of the Pisan Hills Wine Trail, which brings together the region’s wine, local products and historical and artistic heritage. Capannoli also lies within the production area for Bianco Pisano di San Torpè DOC. For travelers in a motorhome, there is a practical option: Capannoli’s motorhome stop has twelve spaces, as well as facilities for water supply and waste disposal and for charging electricity.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: San Pietro Belvedere, Riparbella, Vecchiano, Santa Colomba, Montescudaio, Fauglia, San Giuliano Terme and Casciana Alta.

Return to the main travel overview: Pisa.