The Italians in Cuyahoga Heights
GENERAL HISTORY
LUCCA TUSCANY ITALY
THE VARIOUS TOWNS THAT THE ITALIANS OF CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS CAME FROM
Lucca was created as a Republic by Napoleon and lasted as such from 1801-1805. Then from 1805-1814 it was a principality ruled by Napoleon's sister. It was assigned to the Spanish Crown by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. In 1847 the Crown ceded Lucca to Tuscany.
Tuscany and Umbria are the most visited regions in Italy, and for a great reason. The concentration of attractions here -- its marvelous countryside, sights, charming villages and towns, food and wine -- are beyond description. Practically every hill town offers something interesting to visit. Tuscany has a proud history and traditions along with a unique character and flavor, including the regional delicacies that each part of Italy seems to offer. Many visitors who come to Tuscany bypass Lucca, a lovely town, which is protected within its perfectly preserved renaissance walls. Lucca is a beautiful city with a great history, over one hundred churches and excellent shops and restaurants. Since the town is quite flat, you can grab a bike and coast around its timeless cobblestone side streets and visit some of its ancient palazzi that today house handsome antiques shops and food stores. Of its dozen medieval churches, the most important are the elaborate San Michele in Foro, which was constructed in 1143 and the stately 11th century Duomo which was, and still is, famous for the works produced in its music school, founded in 787 A.D. A famous student of the school was Giacomo Puccini, who gave the world some its greatest operas. Lucca is easy to reach from Florence or Pisa. I recommend it as a wonderful place to spend a couple of days to leisurely stroll the walls or enjoy an opera or concert, especially during the September festival at the historic Teatro del Giglio. Another great musical event is the Sagra Musicale Lucchese, when concerts of religious and classical music are performed in the city's churches from the beginning of April to June each year. Be sure to visit the house where the famous composer Giacomo Puccini was born, the Casa Natale di Giacomo Puccini (Core San Lorenzo 9, off Via di Poggio). And don' leave Lucca without having lunch or dinner at the deservedly popular trattoria, Da Giulio in Pelleria, one of Tuscany's most authentic and beloved eating destinations.
Most Italians were peasants. They were called contadini (peasant farmers). Usually these small landholders rented their land from absentee landlords. Most would walk to their fields each morning. Most of these peasants had little opportunity to rise either socially or economically. As the government became stronger, they imposed taxes on the peasant class, and used them to fill military quotas. Peasants maintained their old loyalties to their region and their priests. Usually they would not say they were Italian, but Tuscan. Due to these problems, they counted on their families. Families were very close in Italy. Life today continues very much like life back in the 1700's. The generations of family all lived the same. Everyday life was a challenge. There were earthquakes, droughts, and flooding, and frequent outbreaks of smallpox, meningitis, typhoid, cholera and malaria. These diseases were usually brought by invading troops. With these diseases running rampant, most families lost several children. Parents were happy and considered fortunate to live to see their children marry and have children. Death was frequent but not taken lightly. The death of a child caused parents much grief. Italians in the 1800's rarely ate meat. Most often they would eat rice, beans, bread, pasta, and polenta.
In Italy, it is uncommon to find very old graves. The graves are rented...be they mausoleum type arrangements or in the ground burial. You don't OWN the grave. After a period of time, the families of the deceased are notified by the authorities a few months before they plan to exhume the plot. Relatives then have the choice of having the bones boxed and placed in a very small burial niche for a small expense or having them added to the cemetery's communal ossuary. The grave or mausoleum spot is then resold.
Before 1860 Italy was divided into 8 separate states, with all but one ruled by foreign governments of the papacy. The movement known as Risorgimento was to unite Italy and remove foreign rule. The movement reached success and the north and central part of Italy prospered. But some did not prosper. In Italy, the contadini earned about 20 cents a day, where in America they could earn $1.00 a day as a laborer. The peak years of immigration to America were between 1901 and 1914. Usually the first arrivals paid for their relatives' passage and provided temporary lodging when newcomers arrived. At the turn of the century a one-way ticket in steerage cost about $35.00. This was equivalent to several months of savings. Many Italians would come to the US to work for just the summer, and return to Italy for the winter. Many made this trip many times, never planning to stay in the US permanently. They were called "Birds of Passage". However, many Italians found that the liked the US and finally sent for others in their family to come to the US.
After acquiring their passport and papers, they travelled to the port city and stayed in a tiny village set up by the steamship companies. They were quarantined for 5 days and were given antiseptic baths, short haircuts, and medical exams. Many of the vessels were overcrowded. Each passenger was supplied with eating utensils, usually a fork, spoon and tin lunch pail. A typical breakfast would be coffee and a biscuit. Lunch was soup and one dish with meat every five days. For supper they would have a dish with meat, wine and bread. There were only two washrooms. They used the basin to wash their dishes, themselves, and their clothing. They were also used for seasickness. When the weather was nice, the immigrants could wander along their deck.
As they approached the New York harbor, they saw the Statue of Liberty, that was unveiled in the New York harbor on Oct. 25, 1886. A small cutter approached the ship and a doctor boarded and checked everyone for obvious signs of illness. If there were no contagious diseases, the ship came to port at a wharf. The first and second class passengers docked there. The third class however, were loaded onto barges and taken to Ellis Island. They gazed at a huge, brick building. The main building on Ellis Island was opened on Dec. 17, 1900, after a fire had destroyed the original wooden building in 1897. That building was constructed for the opening of Ellis Island on New Year's Day 1892. Two years earlier this site had been chosen as an immigrant receiving station to replace Castle Garden on the southern tip of Manhattan, which had been operating since 1855.
As the immigrants landed from the barge, they were tagged with a number that corresponded to their number on the ship's passenger list. They were led into the main building where their baggage was inspected. They were then led up a stairway where inspectors watched them looking for signs of defects or other problems. They got a chalk mark that noted any observations. After medical exams, the newcomers were told to wait in a waiting pen. A registry clerk called up one group at a time. These clerks were dressed in military-style uniforms and frightened many of the immigrants. They would ask the newcomers many questions. They then waited to have their names called so that they might leave the island. Some would have to wait till their husband or other relative came to pick them up. For those that were detained, they would sit and wait. The men and women were kept separated, and were allowed visits to the roof garden. Many aid societies helped occupy their time. Once they were allowed to leave, they were taken to the money exchange where they traded their foreign currency. After that they were escorted to ferries that would take them to other transportation, leading to their final destinations.
An excellent book on the search for Italian Ancestors is "Dances With Luigi" by Paul Paolicelli.
SILLANO COMMUNE
SILLANO, COMMUNE SILLANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Families from the town of Sillano:
Casavecchia
Collecchi
Corradi
Fontana
Giannotti
Santini
Talani
Vincenti
The name Sillano is probably derived from the Latin proper name of a person, Syllanus. Sillano rises high in the Garfagnana area and lies 2.05 meters above sea level. In 2001, Sillano had a population of 784 inhabitants. These were made up of 330 families with an average of 2.38 people per family. The city hall’s email address is sillano@nodalisfree.it There were 17 industrial firms, 13 service firms, and 11 administrative offices. The local economy is mainly based on the production of cereals, silviculture, sheep-farming and also on tourism, thanks both to the beauty of the places and of the landscapes and also to the presence of qualified and fine hotels. Sillano is a large town that’s quite spread out and extends along the side of a gentle slope. Several of the houses are new and many are rented in summer to the numerous holidaymakers who are attracted by the vicinity of the Orecchiella Park, the Pradarena Pass and some of the highest peaks of the Tuscan-Emilian Appennines.
According to an ancient legend, the village was founded in the 102 B.C. by the Romans, who struggled first against the Teutoni and then against the Cimbri. They would have built on the territory of Sillano a military stronghold in order to contrast the coming of the hostile armies. The real development and consolidation of the village occurred during the Early Middle Ages, when a fortress was built and those around the local community started to gather and build its houses. Since the beginning, Sillano had an important strategic role thanks to the presence of its fortified system that, up to the 14th century protected the village against the hostile invasions. Nevertheless at the beginning of the same century, the territory of Sillano was invaded and devastated by the troops of the commander Castruccio Castracani that destroyed the ancient fortress of Sillano. After the devastation by the troops of Lucca lead by Castracani, the territory started to depopulate because it was not equipped with fortifications against the recurrent hostile incursions occurring in the Garfagnana area.
In the middle of the next century the Estensi's family from Ferrara, called by the communities of the Garfagnana area, intervened to pacify the whole area. The village of Sillano was added to the possessions of the Dukedom of Modena, under the Estensi's government, sharing of it its economic and political chances up to its annexing to the Reign of Italy, occurring in 1861 by the action of the King Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia.
Among the most important monuments to see in Sillano are the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Sillano (Parish Church of Sillano), the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo (Saint Michael Archangel Church), the Chiesa di Rocca di Soraggio (Church of Rocca di Soraggio) and the Parco dell’Orecchiella (Orecchiella Park).
Among the numerous celebrations periodically taking place in Sillano, we mention the “Show Market of typical foods and craftsmanship” held annually in October and during which it is possible to admire several fine local crafts.
SILLANO, DALLI SOTTO AND DALLI SOPRA
Sillano, Dalli Sotto and Dalli Sopra had a total of 1,676 inhabitants, according to the official census of December 31, 1871. There are castles in Dalli Sotto and Dalli Sopra. One sixth of the population emigrates annually, leaving to work in Corsica and in the Sardinia. The area produces 480 heads of cattle, 5,370 sheep and goats. There are large amounts of kidskin, butter, cheese and wool.
The forests produce immense riches and were well conserved. The chestnut tree is one of the main products and each year they produce much fruit. The chestnut wood is used to make tables and furniture. The forests border the Reggiana Province, as pastures were needed in the Tuscany province.
In year 1812 the area had two elementary schools with 30 scholars, and today 150 pupils altogether.
Dalli Sopra and Dalli Sotto - These two small countries are placed on the southern flank of the Appennino between the Alpe dictate of Mommio and the Mount of Sillano, to the right of the river of Dalli. Dalli Sopra, also known as Old Dalli. In year 1632 in these countries suffered terrible disease imported from shepherdesses, coming from Livorno, which cost the lives of more than a third of the population.
They have common parochial Cassiano and Ippolito church with the title of the SS. In Dalli Sotto a public Oratory dedicated to the Archangel S. existed Michele, funded from those inhabitants with stable assets. Sacred furnishings and a cemetery were constructed: but in 1781, in the month of May, by order of the Magistrate of the Ecclesiastical Committee and with the competition of the public force, it was demolished and its assets were given to the parochial church in Dalli Sopra. In August of 1823 some Councilmen and inhabitants of Dalli Sotto asked the Duca for Modena for permission to make the other Oratory. So, it decreed by the Vicario Capitolare di Massa of the 20 of the same month, provided that they did not contrast the rights of the Parish priest of Dalli Sopra. In 1563 the first priest Francisco Mannolini di Valle, Parish priest of the church of Pontecosi, entered as Chaplain of the church of the SS.
Dalli Sopra consists of 23 houses with as many families, with 116 inhabitants. Dalli Sotto has 60 united houses and two separated, with 58 families in country and two to the campaign with a total of 298 inhabitants. Dalli Sopra is 4 kilometers away from Sillano and Dalli Sotto is 3 kilometers away from Sillano.
CAPANNE, COMMUNE SILLANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Campanne is not set out as one town, but rather, there are several scattered houses. Some are old, and others are new and quite pretty but don’t have any particular type of style. In the outskirts towards the north, there are several prefabricated homes, all exactly the same. Despite being 1,000 meters above sea level, it is definitely not in a panoramic position, as it lies in a basin completely surrounded by wooded slopes. The Pradarena Pass is a few kilometers away and is one of the highest that cross the Apennine crest, connecting Tuscany with Emilia.
Families fro Capanne:
Bonanni
Guidetti
Talani
DALLI SOPRA, COMMUNE SILLANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
You enter the village through a characteristic entrance that crosses the bottom of the bell tower. Many of the stone houses of this small village have been perfectly constructed.
Families from Dalli Sopra:
Adorni
Fontana
Mentessi
Orlandi
Rocchiccioli
Talani
DALLI SOTTO, COMMUNE SILLANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Most of the Stone-built houses of this village are in excellent condition and are grouped around the church. The numerous renovations made have always maintained the traditional local style.
Families from Dalli Sotto:
Adorni
Angiocchi
Bertolini
Casavecchia
Collecchi
Fantelli
Fontana
Guidetti
Magistrelli
Mazzoni
Mentessi
Nobili
Pallini
Reali
Santini
Spelti
Talani
Tazzioli
Vincenti
In a conversation in July of 2000 with Vilma Talani-Fontana, she stated that she has been to Dalli Sotto many times. Her family (the Talani's) were from Dalli Sopra which is further up the mountain from Dalli Sotto. Sopra means "up" and Sotto means "down". Vilma's father-in-law, Gioacchino Fontana (father of Vilma's husband, Elio Fontana) was born in Dalli Sotto. Here is some information that Vilma shared with me:
In a trip that Vilma took to Dalli Sotto in 1998, she stayed at the Hotel Florida in Sillano, the larger city further down the mountain from Dalli Sotto. She flew into Rome, with a tour group called Trafala's Tours or Parillo Tours, and travelled south along the west coast of Italy and then north along the east coast of Italy, till they reached Milan. Then from Milan they took a train to just outside of Sillano, where they then took a taxi to Sillano. It is 8 miles up the mountain from Sillano to Dalli Sotto. The Hotel Florida would make them whatever they wanted for breakfast, and the lady there would ask them each evening what they wanted for breakfast. They had eggs and toast, pancakes, and the usual breakfast foods. But in most of Italy, people will have bread and butter, polenta, or cereals for breakfast. They have communal bathrooms and showers in this hotel. When trying to strike up a conversation with others in the dining room, Vilma said that she had a hard time as the local people there are cautious about talking with a foreigner, until they get to know who you are.
Vilma was going to use a taxi to get from Sillano to Dalli Sotto, but the taxi never came, so they walked to Dalli Sotto. She thought that she would show her children where the ladies used to do their wash, and took them to the spot only to find two ladies doing their wash in a stone basin with a hand pump in it. She said that much of today's Dalli Sotto has electricity and water, but the people do not have washing machines yet. She then thought that she'd show her children where the ladies used to bake their bread, and took them to the spot only to find a lady baking bread in a huge oven. Early in this century the ladies would take turns at the oven, doing their baking every other day. Vilma and her children then continued into Dalli Sotto and two ladies were talking to each other from their windows. One called to Vilma and said "Hello Vilma Talani - how are you?" They had not seen her since the 1930's, but knew just who she was in 1998. In the 1930's, when Vilma was a child living there, they would sleep on mattresses stuffed with leaves. Dalli Sotto had a chestnut mill, and people from surrounding towns would bring their chestnuts there to grind them. Dalli Sopra and Dalli Sotto had a vegetable market, but if the residents wanted to buy anything else, they would have to walk to Sillano. Mules and wagons were used to transport the vegetables to these vegetable markets and are still used today. Today, some people have small cars, usually the younger people. But, most use scooters to get around. Vilma suggested that it is tough to drive a car in Italy. She said that the drivers are "wild" and that it's tough to drive a car up the mountain to Dalli Sotto and Dalli Sopra because of the winding roads which are only one lane wide. The local people know when to honk their horn as they approach a bend, so that they don't hit an oncoming car. Meals are an important part of the Italian's lives. Everyone is together for dinner, and then after dinner the younger people will go to Sillano to a bar there. The closest hospital to Dalli Sotto is in Pisa. Vilma also said that some of the residents of Dalli Sotto today are self-sufficient and don't work. They have their pensions from the government and free healthcare. Most of the younger people work in Pisa or Florence, and leave home at 3:00 a.m. to get to work and then come home in the evening. The younger people are learning that there are more job opportunities in the larger cities and are leaving Dalli Sotto, but the older folks remain there. There is a man living in Dalli Sotto today (Vilma cannot remember his name) that lived in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio, and returned to Dalli Sotto. He has a son who is a priest and a daughter who is a nun. He was happy to talk with Vilma since it had been so long since he spoke English with anyone. Today in the year 2000, the nearest hospital is in Pisa.
Virginia Fontana wrote the following about her trip with Vilma:
The Hotel Florida in Sillano is actually cheap to stay at. It is a 2-star, tourist class motel. All that means is that it doesn't have a phone in the room and some rooms share a communal shower/bathroom -- like a bed and breakfast setup. We had a bathroom in our room. Also, they are not as secure as Americans would be used to. The lock to the door was opened with a brass key that you put in the keyhole. You could look through the keyhole and see our luggage. But I don't think crime is a big problem in Sillano. Everyone there was really old and mellow. It was very comfortable. There were women in the kitchen all day cooking and we could ask for anything we wanted and they would fix it for us. The food was fantastic. And, the view from our veranda was priceless. Here is the amazing thing: We figured it was going to be about $53.00 per night American dollars as our guidebook said. We were there for 5 nights. Plus we thought food would be extra on top of the room charge. So we figured about $90-100 each plus the meals. Well, they charged us about $100 or less for the whole stay for all three of us! We were floored! They even drove us around a couple of times, once to get us back to the train station in Piazza al Serchio! They knew we were up there looking for relatives and probably figured that we were related to them in some roundabout way so they gave us a great deal. It is entirely affordable to go to Italy if you are prepared to live like the rest of the Italians. Many of the people on our original 2-week tour were very uncomfortable and complained a lot about water pressure, and bidets, and meager amenities, blah blah blah. I was drinking too much wine and eating too much food to really care. I loved it! Claudia and I were on a quest to find our "birth dirt", our paesanos, our heritage. The picture of the farm that I posted online was taken as we were lying on our backs on the side of a hill. We were in heaven. She took some Dalli Sotto dirt in a jar; I took a piece of white stone -- I guess it was marble.
RESEARCH IN DALLI SOTTO
The Dalli Sotto Church Archive for the church of San Michele is in the Church of Dalli Sopra and Rino Mazzoni had the key to the Church. In the Church in Dalli (Sopra, where the Archive is) they have no light in the little room where documents are kept. So Giulio went into the Church but there was not much light there either. The records were very good though and started from 1580. Giulio said that it was a pity that the Priest only goes there on Sunday. The room was dirty and dark and there is no one to take care of the archive. Giulio Salemme was unable to visit the Church of Dalli Sotto as it is open only on Sunday but records/documents are all in Dalli Sopra. The Pallini records are in the Church of Borsigliana; the Priest is the same and he lives in another village (his Mother is very old and he's always in her house). As regards Santa Sabina Church, Giulio will try to find where that was. The church of Dalli Sotto is in the village, the same for the one in Dalli Sopra. Other records may be in the Church of Sillano, as many people from Dalli went to live in Sillano or married in different villages and each village has a church. Before visiting the cemetery of Borsigliana Giulio went in another little cemetery (the one where he got the picture of the Cross): also in this little village - on the same way to Borsigliana- there is a church, but he does not remember the name.
The other source that Giulio used were in Lucca. Because of the fact that in Dalli there are too many people with the same surnames (especially in the past) he went to Lucca in order to find out all the different families composition! These were the 1809 census records for the Church of San Michele.
METELLO, COMMUNE SILLANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Metello consists of a small group of quite anonymous houses which stand almost in contact with the last houses of Brica. The monument dedicated to the war victims is unusual and bizarre, the main element is an enormous imitation rock (in concrete) painted white. This is interesting because one wonders, would it be necessary to use an imitation rock when there are more than enough real rocks in Garfagnana?
Family from Metello:
Iacopucci
COMMUNE GIUNCUGNANO
GIUNCUGNANO, COMMUNE GIUNCUGNANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Families from Giuncugnano:
Amari
Billi
Contipelli
Costa
Nobili
Reali
Giuncugnano lies in a high position in the territory of the Garfagnana area. It is 834 meters above sea level. It is known for its extensive woodland, large pastures and numerous cultivated areas. The economy is strictly based on agriculture. The email address for the city hall is anagragi@libero.it Giuncugnano had a population of 538 inhabitants in 2001. Also in 2001, there were 206 families living there with an average of 2.61 people per family. There were 10 industrial firms, 10 service firms, and one administrative office. The local economy is mainly based on agriculture, silviculture and sheep-farming.
The villageof Giuncugnano itself is situated along a gentle slope of cultivated farmland. The little church with the
Baroque façade is charming. In the lower part there’s an interesting building, at the moment in poor condition, which is distinguished by some unusual types of architecture. It looks out onto a large courtyard with a beautiful portico.
Because of its position and also by being surrounded by a thick and rich wooded vegetation, the village of Giuncugnano developed along the centuries in an isolated condition that did not allow the town the privileges granted to other localities of the Garfagnana area. An official document dating back to the 8th century testifies the presence of numerous little rural villages. Since the beginning the community of Giuncugnano lived off the wooded resources, from which abundant wood and food came. Until the beginning of the 11th century the whole area was dominated by the Longbards, after who the powerful city of Lucca succeeded.
While on one hand the isolated position of the village excluded it from the flourishing trading activity that took place in the Garfagnana area, on the other hand it allowed Giuncugnano to escape from the consequences of the bloody struggles that at that time existing between the two political factions of the Guelphs (Papacy's supporters) and the Ghibellines (Empire's supporters). Nevertheless, Giuncugnano was quarreled over for a long time among the republics of Lucca and Florence and the Dukedom of Modena, a quarrel that lasted up to the middle of the 15th century. At that time the Estensi from Ferrara, who already governed the Dukedom of Modena, imposed their jurisdiction on the village of Giuncugnano. After a short period of Florentine domination, the Estensi dominated the village up to the French invasion of the territory which occurred at the beginning of the 19th century. Since 1815 Giuncugnano came back again to the Dukedom of Modena, still under the Estensi's family. In 1861 Giuncugnano was annexed to the Reign of Italy by the King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoia.
Among the most important monuments to see in Giuncugnano are the Chiesa di Sant’Andrea Apostolo (Saint Andrew Apostle Church), the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate (Saint Anthony Abbot Church), the Chiesa di Magliano (Church of Magliano), the Santuario dell’Argegna (Sanctuary of the Argegna) and the Oratorio della Madonna di Sommocampo (Our Lady of Sommocampo Oratory).
MAGLIANO, COMMUNE GIUNCUGNANO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Magliano is a farm settlement with some old buildings with handsome portals denoting a classic architectural style beside the more modern parts with the houses spread out here and there.
Families from Magliano:
Amari
Danti
COMMUNE PIAZZA AL SERCHIO
PIAZZA AL SERCHIO, COMMUNE PIAZZA AL SERCHIO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Families from Piazza al Serchio:
Magistrelli
Pasqualetti
Pellini
Rossi
The District of Piazza al Serchio is in the province of Lucca, in a valley called Garfagnana. As it lies in the north of the chief town province, from which it is about 60 kilometers away, the District is only 20 kilometers from the province of Massa Carrara. The District territory borders on the districts of Minucciano, Giuncugnano, Sillano, Camporgiano, and San Romano. It is crossed by the Serchio river which, in the small town of Petrognano, begins its main flow thanks to the Acquabianca river, which joins the Serchio river coming from Sillano. At the moment the District territory involves the small towns of San Michele, Nicciano, Cortia, Gragnana, Colognola, Sant’Anastasio, Petrognola, Cogna, Borsigliano, Livignano, Vergnano, San Donnino and Petrognano.
The name of Piazza al Serchio derives from “piazza” meaning a square or market place, and “al serchio” referencing the position of the town in the high basin of the Serchio River. Piazza al Serchio had a population in 2001 of 2,556 inhabitants. There were 924 families with an average of 2.77 people per family. It lies 536 meters above sea level. The email address for the city hall is piazza@mclink.it In 2001 there were 63 industrial firms, 76 service firms and 26 administrative offices. The local economy is based on the production of cereals, vegetables, fruits and also the numerous industries working to make cloths and building materials. The actual town of Piazza al Serchio is a large town situated along the Serchio of Gramolazzo, just before its confluence with the Serchio of Sillano. Due to its geographical position, it has always played an important role in the commercial sector, where the building trade has expanded in the last decade and numerous shops and craft companies have emerged. One important feature of the landscape is the pinnacles of volcanic rock called doglioni amongst which the Serchio of Sillano has dug a narrow ravine revealing the pillow-like structure of the lava.
The first human traces in the territory of Piazza al Serchio probably go back to pre Roman Ages but the first real residential settlements formed during the Longbard Age, as tesified by the numerous archaeological finds came to light and dating back to that time. Since the Early Middle Ages the village of Piazza al Serchio developed and consolidated thanks to its strategic geographical position, along the boundary among Tuscany, Emilia and Liguria and close to numerous torrents. At that time the Bishopric of Lucca imposed its influence on the territory and later the village was annexed to the domains of the Republic of Lucca. During the domination of Lucca, Piazza al Serchio continued to enjoy the economic prosperity and a population increase.
During the 11th century the village of Piazza al Serchio became a desired place, for the powerful cities of the time quarreled over it vainly because the village was faithful to the Pisan power. The quarrel involved the Republic of Pisa, the Republic of Florence and the Dukedom of Modena, governed this latter by the Estensi's family from Ferrara. For a short time the Republic of Lucca got to put an end to the recurrent attempts to conquer the village by the close localities, but during the 18th century the Estensi's family imposed its supremacy on the village of Piazza al Serchio. Thus this latter was annexed to the possessions of the Dukedom of Modena and added to the Diocese of Luni. The period of the Estensi's domination lasted up to the beginning of the next century, when the territory was invaded by the Napoleonic troops that stayed on until 1814.
After the French occupation, the village of Piazza al Serchio came back again to the Estensi's family, whose government lasted up to its annexing to the Reign of Italy which occurred in 1861 by the action of the King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoia.
The District of Piazza al Serchio represents a tourist destination for all those who are looking for quietness and rest. The climate is very favorable. The landscape is characterized by a wide green area made of chestnut, pine, spruce trees and many other species of plants. There is also the possibility to pick up chestnuts, mushrooms, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Surrounded by all this greenery children can have fun playing freely and with no danger. As for adults, they have the chance to go trekking along wonderful paths, to go through peculiar and suggestive itineraries by bike among slopes, woods and rivers. It is the beauty of the partially untouched mountain landscape that characterizes Piazza al Serchio and the little towns nearby. Thanks to the lack of industrial plants, scarce traffic, healthy air and favorable climate, Piazza al Serchio represents a little paradise for those who are looking for relax.
Among the most important monuments to see in Piazza al Serchio are the Chiesa di Piazza al Serchio (Church of Piazza al Serchio), the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta a Borsigliana (Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in Borsigliana), the Chiesa di San Biagio a Petrognano (Saint Biagio Church in Petrognano), the Chiesa di Sant’Anastasio (Saint Anastasio Church) and the remains of the Medieval village.
BORSIGLIANA, COMMUNE PIAZZA AL SERCHIO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Borsigliana is a farming village that runs along a slightly raised hump of land. The original name was Comune Burciliani Burciliani and it was joined to Vergnano, a little village with which it established an autonomous District. The Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Mary has an ancient bas-relief on its façade. Inside the church there is a triptych representing Pietro da Talada which dates back the XV century. The 18th century church has been built on top of the structure of a Romanesque building where traces of an old door mounted with an antique bas-relief of the Mother and Child can still be seen. One can note a large building standing beside the church, now in bad condition. It must have been magnificent in the past. This can be presumed by the beautiful portal, the windows with stone cornices and the large grounds shaded by numerous centenarian trees.
Families from Borsigliana:
Mentessi
Pellini
NICCIANO, COMMUNE PIAZZA AL SERCHIO, PROVINCE LUCCA, REGION TUSCANY, ITALY
Nicciano is situated on a hill which hangs over San Michele, on the left of the Acquabianca stream and at the very beginning of the Tea Mountain. The shape of the current inhabited area follows the lines of an old castle with its walls; it belonged to the Marquees Spinetta who later sold it to the Republic of Florence. After the killing of its priest, the Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Matteo was finally consecrated by the Cardinal Alessandro I Guidiccioni, Bishop of Lucca. The Bishop of Sarzana could not fulfil his task because of the plague, which was devastating the city. In 1603, while the destiny of the Lucchesi was not happy as it was in the hands of Castiglione, a corps, commanded by the Captain Jacopo Coreglino and situated in Lunigiana, attacked Cortia and consequently Nicciano; after a short resistance of the Garfagnini it sacked and burnt the two towns. Nicciano was the homeland of A. Lemmi who was known as the Earl of Tognone; he deserves being mentioned for his great value. He was a brave opposer of the French and of the Spanish who had a garrison in the Province. The Earl Tognone forced them to take refuge in the fortress of Montalfonso, preventing them from invading the high side of the town.
Nicciano is a village of medieval origin with beautiful houses in the same architectural style as several of the other hamlets of Piazza al Serchio. Most of them have been built in dark sandstone by skilled craftsmen. One of the houses is decorated with bizarre sandstone sculptures depicting mysterious archaic figures. Their grotesque and expressive faces have been carved with rare skill by a local contemporary sculptor, the same artist of the very unusual monument that stands beside the church and is dedicated to war victims.
Families from Nicciano:
Bacci
Rossi