Holiday apartment in Gattaia: Monte Gattaia, Muccione Valley and history
Holiday apartment in Gattaia between Apennine landscapes and history
Gattaia combines a striking landscape with a complex local history. Monte Gattaia lies near the Gothic Line and served as a place of organisation and refuge for partisan groups from Mugello. At the same time, the mountain forms a natural transition between Tuscany and Romagna.
Gorge, water spots and paths through the Muccione Valley
The access road to Gattaia runs through a narrow gorge carved by the constantly flowing Muccione towards the Apennines. Southwest of the centre, Viale della Rimembranza di Gattaia runs along the municipal access road to the village and borders the hamlet’s cemetery. This specific location already gives visitors, upon arrival, an impression of how closely the settlement, valley and mountain are connected.
Along the route through the Muccione Valley, there are cascades and water spots where hikers can cool off. The “La valle del Muccione in Mugello” route begins above Vicchio, after passing Gattaia.
Fornello, viaduct and traces of former work
In the surroundings of Gattaia, the route through the Muccione Valley leads to the former, now abandoned Fornello station on the Faentina railway. It also passes underneath the Valdicampi Viaduct. The railway viaduct dates from the 19th century and has two rows of arches. A detour from the route leads along an unnumbered path to an old quarry. Decauville wagons and the remains of a stone-crushing facility have been preserved there. These stations and relics give the route an industrial and transport-historical dimension.
Church, villa and medieval traces
Gattaia developed into a small settlement with a church, an aristocratic villa, a chapel, a mill and two stone footbridges. The ancient Santa Felicita Church in the lower part of Gattaia has been documented as a “cura d’anime” since 1273. Above the wooden entrance gate of the Santa Felicita al Fiume di Gattaia Church is an unframed terracotta roundel depicting Saint Felicitas. The church also has a recessed bell gable with three openings on two levels and small bells dating from 1883.
On Monte Gattaia, remains of retaining walls, traces of a cistern and internal supply structures survive from the fortress. Between the 11th and 14th centuries, Gattaia was probably an important gateway to the Apennines. A mill and a pilgrim hospice have been part of Gattaia’s recorded history since the mid-14th century; at the beginning of the 15th century, Gattaia had a mill.
Remembrance of the resistance
Gattaia was a partisan base from the beginning of the resistance. The Gattaia memorial plaque commemorates Ottorino Quiti and Adriano Santoni from Gattaia, who were shot by Nazi Fascists on 22 March 1944 at Campo di Marte in Florence. It also recalls that on 6 March 1944 the partisans from Gattaia joined forces with the partisans of Monte Giovi to liberate Vicchio after a fierce battle.
To the main travel overview: Vicchio.
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