Creahlands Project
What is Creahlands? Introducing landscapes and rural heritage into education is an opportunity for better and more participatory land management....
Trail 115: San Giuliano Ring, Dante Pass and Villa del Polacco
Which of you know the ring of St. Julian's? Dear lovers of hiking, nature walks, scenic views, and hiking with friends! Today we want to offer you a walk that is simple but at the same time full of unique sights and Mediterranean scents....
An ancient romanesque village: Borgo Mirteto
Asciano: one of the many small villages on the lower slopes of Monte Pisano. It’s not very well-known but from here a cobblestone path, which winds through olive groves and woods, leads to Borgo Mirteto, one of the most suggestive and magical places of our territory. It is an ancient abandoned monastery, which dates back to the 12th century, and preserves intact the layout of a religious hamlet, with the Romanesque church...
Three wonderful views on Monte Pisano
Today we want to help you choose some easily accessible places on Monte Pisano from which to enjoy unique views. Walk with a view? Are you aware of the feeling when you admire a vast panorama from a hill or a mountain? When opening our eyes in front of us cars, people and cities look like little ants? Freedom! Monte Pisano can give us this feeling in many ways and one of these is...
Monte Pisano Trail, not only a Trail race
In March, a special Trail Running Race takes place on Monte Pisano: it winds along paths surrounded by unspoiled nature and historical evidences that makes the Monte Pisano Trail race really amazing....
Enchantment and history: a trip to the Parole d’Oro (Golden Words)
At the foot slopes of Monte Pisano, facing Lucca, you can find a place steeped in history and nature. Today we want you to rediscover with this article of October 2018 a magical place a few km from Lucca This is not only part of one of the most interesting hiking paths of Monte Pisano (la Via degli Acquedotti), but also an ideal destination for photographers and nature lovers: we're talking about...
The fire prevention reservoir in Praticelli di Verruca has been rebuilt
We are happy to announce that the fire prevention reservoir in Praticelli di Verruca has been rebuilt, a year after the terrible blaze in 2018. This was one of the projects for the territory funded by the Festa del Monte Pisano on the 14th of June, with the Nomadi concert. The completed work was presented on the institutional commemorative day at the Teatro Valgraziosa in Calci, Tuesday the 24th of September 2019,...
3 biking trails from San Giuliano Terme, along Monte Pisano
Three biking trails departing from our office in San Giuliano Terme, where you can rent bicycles. We offer e-bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes: each bike can be rented on the spot, depending on availability, from €25.00 per day. 1. Calci, the Charterhouse and the Natural History Museum Km: 26 Time: 5 hours Difficulty: easy Period: all year round Departure from San Giuliano Terme, a small town at the foot of Monte Pisano,...
ITINERA ROMANICA+ project
FOOT is a network of four running events taking place from spring to fall in Italy, Slovenia, Greece and Malta: four countries that have been thriving on the cultivation of olive trees for many centuries. Keep fit under the olive trees!...
TRAMES project
8 Smart Ways - itineraries of excellence based on innovative and current themes including sustainability, creative tourism, active involvement of local communities and entrepreneurs - 7 Intercultural Dialogue Festivals and one videogame dedicated to the ancient Phoenician routes: these are the objectives of the TRAMES project, co-financed by the European Union and based on the creation of new tourist products in five Mediterranean countries (Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece and Spain)...
A day at the museum… of wonders! [part 2]
[Finally the second part of the visit to the museum...
A day at the museum… of wonders! [part 1]
Have you ever seen up close a puffer fish from the Nile, a lyrebird, a pig-nosed turtle or a ring-tailed lemur? These and other other extravagant beauties that nature has created over the millennia are not native to Europe, but to see them you don't have to go to Africa or Australia. Here, in Italy, near Pisa, there is an extraordinary place "inhabited" by wonderful creatures which will leave you speechless:...
14&15 June: the 1st major Monte Pisano Festival, with I Nomadi in concert
Many of our readers know how much dedication and hard work we put into the touristic and cultural promotion of Monte Pisano; throughout the years we have taken part in national and international fairs, met buyers and reported extensively on the territory. This year we have decided, with the support of the Monte Pisano municipalities, to go a step further: to organize an event based on music and sport! After careful...
The castle in Nozzano, from theatre of war to theatre of history
If you catch the train that connects Lucca to Viareggio, looking north just outside the walled city, you can't miss a particular marble structure with two asymmetric towers, perched on a rocky cliff which dominates the surrounding territory. It is the Castle of Nozzano, a medieval fortress which was an outpost of the Lucca defence system. A position of great strategic importance, straddling the heatedly contested border between Lucca and Pisa. Nozzano...
The Hermitage of Rupecava: contemplation and mystery, from the Middle Ages to now
Monte Pisano has always been of great strategic importance, situated between Pisa and Lucca and close to Florence. However the territory, with its mountains and nature, also lends itself to silence and retreat. There are many buildings which attest this aspect of history, from the Mirteto Monastery, the Cavern Hermitage and Rupecava (the most ancient of the three). The Hermitages from the Middle-East to Italy The Rupecava Hermitage is located above...
Ancient Camellias: a special exhibition not to be missed on Monte Pisano
It’s a really fascinating scenery and every single house with the neat gardens and stone walls communicates the devotion for the environment of the people living their....
7 Municipalities for Monte Pisano. What shouldn’t you miss?
The Monte Pisano area, even though it isn't particularly vast, covers over 7 districts. Yes, seven municipalities for this corner of Tuscany. Each of these has its own unique history and many things to see: in this article we would like to briefly introduce the area, crisscrossing our beloved Monte. 1. Vicopisano In this small medieval hamlet you can still enjoy the peace and tranquility that once reigned in the countryside, far away...
A Winter Sunday at the beach
The Christmas Holidays are far behind us and even though the temperatures are still quite low a walk through the wonderful landscape of this corner of Tuscany is very welcome for both the body and mind. Monte Pisano, a small mountain range that divides Lucca and Pisa, is also very close to the lake and sea. Only a few kilometres away there is a unique beach which is part of the...
4 must-see exhibitions in Pisa and Lucca
In this weather we don't really feel like spending a lot of time outdoors, but Monte Pisano and its surrounding areas offer a variety of things to see. Be it music, food and wine or culture, there is a lot on offer, however today we are going to focus on only one: exhibitions. Bosch, Brueghel, Arcimboldo – a spectacular exhibition In the Arsenali Repubblicani di Pisa, we can find this spectacular exhibition which...
The Nativity scenes of Monte Pisano
Christmas is on its way, but not all of you know about the Nativity scenes tucked away in the small hamlets of Monte Pisano and the Christmas markets where you can feel the magical atmosphere of this time of the year. Whether you live here or on holiday, here are the Nativity scenes of Monte Pisano! Nicosia Nativity Scene - Calci "Il Presepio che Cresce" (The growing Nativity Scene), at the ancient...
The Ghost of Teresa and when the Villa di Corliano inspired Frankenstein
Many of you know Villa di Corliano, the beautiful early 15th century villa built on the footslopes of Monte Pisano. This glorious villa, nowadays a luxury hospitality location and renowned restaurant Osteria all'Usssero (da Antonio), is also known for its mysteries: ghosts, experiments and the visits of poets and writers. The villa is owned by the Counts Agostini Venerosi della Seta, who recount the story of their ancestor Teresa who lived...
4 things to do on Monte Pisano in the Winter
Winter is fast approaching and with it the desire to spend more time indoors, even more so when the weather is not being kind. However this does not mean that there aren't activities that allow us to enjoy our beloved corner of Tuscany in this time of year. We have spoken a lot about our natural beauties in our recent articles, but Monte Pisano also offers several different activities. [Relax] Bagni di...
Wow, the ancient ships of Pisa!
As many of you know, Monte Pisano is nestled in between the two historical cities of Lucca and Pisa, rich in priceless art and monuments. For example in Pisa, in addition to the Leaning Tower and other world-famous monuments, you can also visit (even if work is still in progress) The Ancient Ship Museum, with archaeological artifacts discovered 20 years ago and impatient to be admired. 20 years ago...
Poets, Counts and history on Monte Pisano: Dante’s Pass
As many of you know Monte Pisano is crisscrossed by many paths and trails, in the past the only roads connecting Lucca to Pisa. Among these there is one that takes its name from Dante Alighieri, the most important and well-known poet of Italy. It's called Dante's Pass, a beautiful scenic spot overlooking Pisa and the coastline and from which many paths, of varying length and difficulty, depart. But let's get...
Brunelleschi’s Fortress in Vicopisano, example of an impregnable masterpiece
There is a small hamlet at the foothill of Monte Pisano, rich in history and tradition: we're talking about Vicopisano, about 20 minutes from Pisa. You can reach this hamlet following the Vicarese provincial road, from where an impressive tower can be seen in the distance. Photo Credits: gosia_siudzinska This is Brunelleschi's Fortress, commissioned to the architect Filippo Brunelleschi, when, after a eight-month siege, the hamlet capitulated and from Pisa...
Monte Pisano goes to Adventure Travel world summit 2018!
We proudly announce our participation in the Adventure Travel world summit 2018 which will be held in Montecatini Terme 15-18 October. Produced by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in collaboration with Toscana Promozione Turistica, ATWS is not just a conference but a place to network with adventure-based tour operators and media from around the world. The four-day conference kicks off with a “Day of Adventure,” giving attendees the opportunity to connect with...
3 good reasons to experience the Monte Pisano in summer
With the arrival of Summer, both your mind and body start feeling the need to be outdoors, to immerse yourself in nature and to keep fit. We are lucky here in our beautiful corner of Tuscany, this little jewel nestled between Pisa and Lucca, close to the sea, lakes and mountains, where it is possible to do many outdoor activities. This is what Monte Pisano has to offer on long summer days. Mountain...
Fruit Cake [the recipes of Monte Pisano]
Antonio, manager of Osteria All'Ussero, located in the Villa di Corliano in Rigoli (San Giuliano Terme) would like to share with you this old recipe, found in the notebook of Teresa Agostini Venerosi Della Seta (1862-1946). ...
Monte Pisano in Lonely Planet!
Our main aim has always been to promote the Monte Pisano "brand" in order to make it an internationally recognized tourist destination. Over the years, step by step, the brand has become established and has grown stronger, thanks to our collaboration with local businesses but also, on an international level, to our participation to previous and ongoing European Projects. The road is still long and hard, but it's a great satisfaction to...
3 things you (maybe) didn’t know about the Royal Villa of Marlia
In a previous article we recounted our experience discovering the Park of the Royal Villa of Marlia, which dates back to the Middle Ages and has been enriched more and more over the years. Today I want to focus the story on 3 things that are curious and deserve a closer look! 1. Dali, Moravia and the sports area (hidden) Not visible at first glance, but hidden behind tall hedges that preserve its...
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