Lorenzana: Villa Giuli and a layered local history

Lorenzana’s cultural history is reflected in a villa with a park, religious sites and traces of the former castle. The change from Pisan to metric measurements is another historical theme. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing these cultural highlights from the Cammino d’Etruria Pisa–Volterra hiking route, whose route is still being reviewed.

Villa Giuli: architecture and gardens

In Lorenzana’s historic centre, Villa Giuli and its park are of particular historical, architectural and functional value. In places, the elongated villa follows the ridge on which it stands. The park includes mature trees and two gardens: the rose garden to the east and the hanging palm garden to the west. The grounds thus combine a tangible connection to the contours of the land with a clearly structured garden landscape. For those interested in culture, the architecture, park and garden names come together as different aspects of the same historic estate.

Religious sites and sacred art

San Bartolomeo Apostolo in Lorenzana is classified as a pievania, a parish church with baptismal rights. The Chiesino Giuli chapel in Palazzo Sgrilli offers a different connection to the church: it is now deconsecrated and belongs to the municipality. Check access before visiting. It once housed a valuable painting of the Deposition of Jesus, created in the second half of the 19th century by the Pisan painter Marianini.

The Lorenzani family chapel is dedicated to Saint Peter of Alcantara. A terracotta plaque depicting the risen Christ is set into the Fontina del Cimitero. It was created in 1986 by Angela Gatti Pellegrini, a painter, writer and sculptor. Lorenzana’s sacred art thus encompasses different forms: a church classification, a dedication, a painting formerly housed there and a dated terracotta work.

Traces of the castle and changing units of measurement

Lorenzana’s castle was destroyed by the Florentines in the 15th century. During excavations for foundations at the site of the former castle, a halberd, pikes, a ring and iron balls were found; they are regarded as evidence of the former castle. The destruction and the finds represent two distinct historical layers: an event in the 15th century and objects considered evidence of the castle.

Another aspect of change concerns units of measurement: in 1877, a plaque was installed in Lorenzana recording conversions between old Pisan units and the metric decimal units introduced at the time. This historical detail adds the evolution of the measurement system to the history of the castle and the church.

Landscape and hiking plans

At the municipal level, Crespina Lorenzana’s location offers views of the entire profile of the Livornese Hills. According to current plans, the Cammino d’Etruria Pisa–Volterra passes through Lorenzana; its route is still being reviewed. GPX tracks and further information about using the trail are to be published once the review is complete. If you would like to include the Cammino in your hiking plans, check the project page first.

Cultural interests and choosing a base

If you are considering Lorenzana as a possible base for a stay in Tuscany, you can weigh up cultural interests and hiking plans separately: the villa, sacred art and castle history are the town’s cultural highlights, while the Cammino should only be included in specific hiking plans once its current status has been checked. This makes it possible to distinguish the town’s cultural appeal from the hiking route, which is still under review.

Discover more destinations: Buti, Lari, Molino d'Egola, San Giuliano Terme, Montecatini Val Di Cecina, Castelnuovo Di Val Di Cecina, Santa Maria A Monte, Santa Croce Sull'arno.

For the main travel overview: Pisa.