Castelvecchio – medieval village with churches and trekking routes

Castelvecchio is a medieval village whose original structure can still be recognized in its alleyways today. They lead uphill to the Church of San Ansano and give the village a distinctive historical character. For a trip to Tuscany, Castelvecchio thus offers a combination of sacred art, traditional festivals passed down through the generations, and designated trails for a range of active interests.

Churches and art in the village center

At the center is the Church of San Giovanni Battista. The Oratorio del Santissimo Rosario is located below the church and can be reached via a narrow alley next to the place of worship. Its specific location makes the visit a small discovery of the village: not only the building itself, but also the connection between the church, alley, and oratory is part of the village’s historic character. San Giovanni Battista dates from the early 17th century. The church also contains a 15th-century panel painting. It depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned between Saints John and Thomas. For visitors interested in culture, this creates a clear chronological contrast between the church and the older artwork, without limiting the village to a single historical period.

The Pieve and its traditional history

Another focal point is the Pieve of Saints Ansano and Tommaso, which was first documented in a charter from the year 879. Its history therefore reaches significantly further back than that of the Church of San Giovanni Battista. The Pieve includes a crypt which, according to tradition, was Saint Ansano’s preferred place to retreat for prayer. This attribution is expressly part of the tradition and lends the visit an additional historical and religious dimension.

Designated routes for trekking and mountain biking

Castelvecchio is also connected with several named routes. Nano Alto is a designated mountain-bike route in Castelvecchio. The Sentiero Valleriana 52B and Sentiero Valleriana 59 are designated for trekking. If you are travelling with different interests, Castelvecchio allows you to combine cultural destinations and active pursuits within the same choice of location.

A procession revived

The tradition of the Madonna Addolorata is also part of the village’s history. The festival was revived in 1990 with a procession and a marching band. The traditional procession led from the parish church to the Pieve and then back again. This preserves a historically documented festival route that connected the two religious sites. It does not indicate a current date for the event; nevertheless, the procession remains an independent element of Castelvecchio’s local tradition. For your further selection of destinations in Tuscany, you can also find information on [Collodi](Collodi), [Sorana](Sorana), [Vellano](Vellano), [Fibbialla](Fibbialla), [Pietrabuona](Pietrabuona), [Aramo](Aramo), [Monte A Pescia](Monte A Pescia) and [San Quirico](San Quirico).

For the higher-level travel overview: Pescia.