Bacchereto – Majolica, Village History and Via Medicea

In Tuscany, Bacchereto combines an unusually tangible ceramic history with medieval traces and two clearly described stages of the Via Medicea. If you would like to combine culture, local history and longer hikes on your trip, you will find several different points of interest here: from the Complesso di S. Maria Assunta and Casa Toia to the routes to Artimino and Vinci.

Majolica and the History of the Old Village

Between the final decades of the 14th century and the end of the 16th century, a flourishing production of high-quality majolica developed in Bacchereto. The historic production was not limited to the locality, but was exported to large parts of Tuscany. Bacchereto therefore represents a chapter in the history of Tuscan craftsmanship that can be traced not only through individual buildings, but also through archaeological evidence. The Complesso di S. Maria Assunta displays archaeological examples of local medieval and Renaissance ceramic production. The complex is considered the heart of the old village and thus brings together key references to Bacchereto’s history. Restoration work and archaeological investigations at the complex also revealed walls, a gate, a road and a tower belonging to an ancient castle from the early 12th century. A visit therefore offers a close juxtaposition of an exhibition and architectural traces of earlier settlement phases. The number of surviving production sites also makes the ceramic tradition tangible: between the 15th and 16th centuries, six ceramic kilns were operating in Bacchereto; one of them still survives. Casa Toia adds to this historical picture. The building dates from the 14th or 15th century and, according to tradition, was the home of Lucia di Zoso, Leonardo Da Vinci’s maternal grandmother. This wording expressly refers to a tradition, not to confirmed personal use by Leonardo himself.

Bacchereto on the Via Medicea

For hikers, Bacchereto is listed on two consecutive stages of the Via Medicea. The second stage leads from Artimino to Bacchereto. It is 22.1 kilometres long, classified as moderately difficult and requires 6 hours and 15 minutes of actual walking time. Bacchereto appears here as the destination of a longer day stage. The third stage begins in Bacchereto and ends in Vinci. It is 18 kilometres long, also moderately difficult, and listed as requiring 6 hours and 40 minutes of actual walking time. This means that on this route you can regard the locality both as a stage destination when coming from Artimino and as a starting point in the direction of Vinci. The two routes differ in length and stated walking time, but both remain classified as moderately difficult.

Festivals and Local Particularities

Events are also part of the documented local history. At the Sagra del Fico documented for 2025, penne al fico was on the list of daily dishes. The Festa Grossa is a nine-day event held every five years in May. This event schedule is therefore crucial for your travel planning: you should not assume that it is held annually. Together with the majolica exhibition, the castle traces, Casa Toia and the two stages of the Via Medicea, Bacchereto thus offers various themes for a travel decision balancing culture, history, regional tradition and active days.

Other Places to Research

You can also view the entries for [Comeana](Comeana), [Poggio Alla Malva](Poggio Alla Malva) and [Seano](Seano) for additional information.

For the higher-level travel overview: Carmignano.