Plein Air Valleriana in Tuscany, Italy: Who/Where

Valleriana aka Svizzera Pesciatina - Ten Castled Villages 1+ hours from Florence Italy

Valleriana in Tuscany

Welcome to Plein Air Valleriana!

Valleriana is the collective name of the ten castled-villages in the hills north of Pescia, in the district of Pistoia, in Tuscany, Italy. Its older name is Svizzera Pesciatina, because a man named Jean Charles Leonard Simonde de Sismondi saw a resemblance of these hills to his native

Switzerland

. [The 'Plein Air' part of the name of this site was added because Valleriana is a landscape painter's paradise!]

Regarding the Pescia River(s) in Valleriana: "From the 18th to the 19th century, the abundance of water allowed the development of paper production, including some famous throughout Europe. Napoleone had his wedding declaration printed on a sheet of a paper mill in Pescia, the famous Magnani paper mill."
~ quote from Wikipedia, https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescia_(fiume)

We hope that you enjoy perusing this site to become acquainted with our beloved hills and valleys and that you will come visit our area soon!

The Ten Villages are:

Valleriana: Less Touristy, but no less Tuscan!

One Facebook page [in Italian] that lists many of the current events that happen around Valleriana:
Io Amo La Valleriana [I love Valleriana]:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/501340983333722/

Forum [in Italian]:
http://lasvizzerapesciatina.forumfree.it/
Especially this page: http://angoliditoscana.it/pescia-pt-valleriana/

The Photo Gallery follows [scroll down].

Hills and rivers and creeks in Valleriana near Ponte di Sorana and Ponte di Castelvecchio

Photo by Paul Edwards

WHERE EXACTLY?
     Pescia is the largest town to the villages in Valleriana that has both a train and a bus station. The Pescia train station lies along the route from Florence, Italy, to Lucca and Viareggio. Florence [Firenze] is a one-hour train ride northwest to Pescia; Lucca is even closer, although you would come from the other direction.

   You may find that renting a car is the easiest way for your to check out the ten villages and all of the in-between gorgeous places.

     There are buses that run from Pescia up into some of the villages of Valleriana. However, they are limited to the hours before 6 p.m. and do not run very often. Also, the bus station in Pescia is not very close [by foot] to the train station. If you want to take the bus into Valleriana from Firenze, for example, take the BluBus from Firenze to Montecatini Terme, change buses to go to Pescia, and change again for the hills. This is Italy and is a bit tricky since the bus station in Montecatini Terme [which IS near its train station] has no labels for the stops. You would be wise to ask for clear directions from someone who has done the route!

We welcome feedback, questions, submission of related photos, and stories of your visit to Valleriana. Thank you!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pietrabuona:

Pietrabuona translates to "good stone," likely an antique commentary on the grey sandstone called pietra serena that is quarried here in Valleriana, but used for buildings all over Tuscany. Besides that Museum of Paper that tells the history of the paper mills from about the 1300s, I think I was told, Pietrabuona has a Post Office [closing at 1:45 each afternoon, except Sundays, of course] and a restaurant. There is a small grocery with the butcher shop and a cafe where the locals congregate.

It is the village that you will pass through whichever of the two forks in the road that you take to see the rest of the villages.

Links:
Circolo Arci Agorà Pietrabuona: https://www.facebook.com/arciagorapietrabuona

Pietrabuona as photographed by Gianluca Moret Medieval town in Tuscany

Return to the top

Medicina:

Medicina as photographed by Gianluca Moret

Return to the top

Fibbialla:

Fibbialla medieval city in Valleriana; photo by Gianluca Moret

Return to the top

Aramo:

Perhaps the smallest of the ten villages, Aramo does lie on the bus route from Pescia to Lanciole, but ... you must ask the driver to stop there. If you are in Aramo, you might want to walk to the main road since the driver sometimes bypasses it. We would love to lure more people to this neck of the woods, if for no other reason than to give the bus drivers more passengers!

Aramo in Valleriana in Tuscany Italy photo by Gianluca Moret

Return to the top

San Quirico:

A very active village with several events throughout the year. And a community restaurant with a great rooftop terrace overlooking the valley where locals enjoy eating pizza and socializing.

Links: Circolo ARCI La Castella Del Turista - San Quirico Pescia - PT [District of Pistoia]:
https://www.facebook.com/circololacastelladelturista/

San Quirico in Valleriana, Tuscany by Gianluca Moret

Return to the top

Castelvecchio:

This village is famous for La Pieve, a stone church that dates from 979 A.D. and is located up the hill from the actual village. It has unusual figures and faces that look from another part of the world carved into the facade. Inside, each simple column is topped by a different pattern. Otherwise the church is very simple in decoration. Villagers still hold special events, such as concerts and holiday masses, and even funerals, at La Pieve.

This writer was told that the church located in the village is actually older than La Pieve. There is a fresco there that is quite marvelous, which you may see on appointment or special festival days.
In addition, as you enter under the archway leading into the village, you may look up and see the sign of the Medici, yes, those Medici of Florence.

Articles and more images of this pretty little village:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2013_09_StoneCarvingSymposium-Italy.htm

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/201610_ArtNews-CastelvecchioLaPieveVallerianaTuscany.htm

Amici di [Friends of] Castelvecchio in Valleriana: https://www.facebook.com/groups/471525706539397/

Churches:

Pieve page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pieve-di-Castelvecchio/1155876194439529

Official site of the Parish of Saints Tommaso and Ansano:

SITO UFFICIALE DELLA PARROCCHIA DEI Ss. TOMMASO E ANSANO: http://www.gpcastelvecchio.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Gruppo-Parrocchiale-Castelvecchio-784400138311030/

Castelvecchio in snow (Pieve on the Right) Photo by Gianluca Moret

Return to the top

Stiappa:

I have been asking around to the locals for input into each of the villages. One woman who was born in Stiappa wrote me this [my translation with help of Google]:

Yes, we have an open club after lunch for coffee. On Wednesday afternoon the doctor comes to the office. In summer it is open almost all day even after dinner because the country fills up with the emigrants returning for their holidays, especially from France. August 15 [Ferragosto] is the main festival as the church is consecrated to Santa Maria Assunta and is organized the festival of the beccutino (gnocchi dough but with yeast, shaped like a big finger, then fried and dusted with sugar).

Her original Italian, "Si abbiamo un circolo aperto dopo pranzo per il caffè. Il mercoledì pomeriggio ci viene il medico a farci l'ambulatorio. D'estate è aperto quasi tutto il giorno anche dopo cena perché il paese si riempie con gli emigrati che tornano per le ferie, sopratutto dalla Francia. Il 15 agosto è la festa padronale siccome la chiesa è consacrata a santa maria assunta e viene organizzata la sagra del beccutino (impasto degli gnocchi ma con lievito, modellato come un grosso dito, poi fritto e spolverato di zucchero)."

~Roberta

Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/785933674755000/ [ask to join]
https://www.facebook.com/Stiappa/

Stiappa in Valleriana Tuscany by Gianluca Moret

Susan Heslington's Tuscany Villages blog post about Stiappa's Ferragosto Festival:
https://www.tuscanyvillages.com/stiappa-sagra-del-beccutino/

15 August festival ~ Photo by Susan Heslington

Return to the top

Pontito:

Pontito may be the most recognizable village from a distance since it is shaped like a pyramid. The twinkling lights from the village at night make one smile.

Links:

Amici di Pontito: https://www.facebook.com/groups/254631488011310/

Pontito [shaped] like a point, a triangle; photo by Gianluca Moret

Pontitio in Valleriana Tuscany Italy Toscana Italia Medieval Village

Found in a stone in the road. Photo by Alessandra Grandi

Return to the top

Sorana:

Sorana is a charming little village with its shares of characters and several foreign residents. The most famous event is held the last Sunday in August: the BEAN festival. There is dining in the piazza until it is time to move some of the tables aside and let the DJ get the grooves going. What is so fun about this festival is like many in Italy: everyone dances together, no matter what one's age. It is lovely to see the generations mix while having such a good time. Join us!

Links:

Circolo di Sorana: https://www.facebook.com/circolosorana

Sorana in Valleriana Tuscany by Gianluca Moret

Sorana awaits the Befana Winter holidays

Sorana is famous for her white beans

Return to the top

Vellano:

Vellano is the largest of the ten villages of Valleriana and quite active with events and artists. And it is the home of the last remaining quarry of the famed pietra serena. [See the Cava Nardini listing on the "Local Businesses" page.] Publio's gem and mineral collection are worth a visit, as well as his museum of miners and stone carvers. Manero restaurant is a great place to unwind with an amazing view of the valley.

Vellano Circolo ARCI: https://www.facebook.com/arcivellano