Discover Casciana: Holiday Apartment in Alta Garfagnana

Casciana is located in Alta Garfagnana at an altitude of 648 m. The village combines a rich history with trails for trekking and mountain biking, as well as small insights into the local food culture. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Casciana will find a place where nature experiences, local history and regional features can be combined.

Between ridges, the lake and easy circular routes

The trekking route from Casciana via Verrucolette to Gramolazzo follows a ridge and then descends to Lago di Gramolazzo. It is approximately 7 km long and has only slight changes in elevation. Its approximate length and gentle elevation profile make it a clearly defined opportunity to explore the surrounding area on foot.

A trekking route begins in Casciana and ends in Gramolazzo. The trekking programme included a guided tour of the Chiesa Vecchia and the Museo dell’Identità e della Memoria, as well as activities involving traditional crafts. The same trekking programme also included a visit to the park by the lake. These former programme items show that hiking here could be combined with insights into local history, the culture of remembrance and craftsmanship.

There is also a specific option for cyclists: The “Camporgiano – Casciana – Lago di Gramolazzo – Gorfigliano – Roggio – Camporgiano” mountain bike route is an easy circular tour around Camporgiano via paths and forest roads. For orientation in the wider area, a small road also leads north from Casciana towards Piazza al Serchio and crosses the Serchio on a small bridge.

Historic traces in the villagescape

Several architectural details point to the village’s earlier form. The entrance gate is a surviving remnant of the former walls that once surrounded Casciana. A stone arch marks the former ancient entrance to Casciana’s historic centre. The bell tower probably served as a watchtower and completes this picture of a settlement shaped over a long period of time.

The parish church of San Tommaso Apostolo is located on the road to Cascianella. Construction of the new church building of San Tommaso began in 1931. San Tommaso in Casciana was granted the title of priory in 1944. Inside, the church has a vaulted ceiling decorated with frescoes by the painter Vasco Cavani.

The side altar also tells of earlier construction phases: its carved and painted upper wooden section dates from 1627, and the side altar was transferred from the former church. For visitors interested in history, it is therefore not only the age of individual elements that is noteworthy, but also their connection with the predecessor church.

The local history goes back even further. The place name Casciana may have Roman origins and derive from “Praedia Cassiana”. Casciana is mentioned in a lease agreement by Corrado, Bishop of Lucca, from the year 939. Before 1565, baptisms from Casciana were carried out in the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Vitoio.

Apple variety and meeting place in the village

The Mela Casciana is one of the region’s distinctive features. It is a traditional apple variety from Garfagnana with a roundish, flattened shape and red skin with green-yellow stripes. Alongside the historic buildings, it gives the local landscape a culinary and agricultural character.

The MaMa bar and grocery shop in Casciana was inaugurated. It offers a bar with options for breakfast, meals or drinks, as well as toilets accessible to everyone. This specific place adds a practical stop in the village to planning a day in Casciana.

Choose a holiday apartment in Casciana based on your travel interests

When searching for a holiday apartment in Casciana, you can organise your priorities in advance. For planning a hike, the trekking route over the ridge, the connection to Gramolazzo and the former programme items involving the Chiesa Vecchia, museum, crafts and the park by the lake are the main points of interest. Those who prefer to combine different modes of transport can also consider the easy circular mountain bike tour via Casciana and Lago di Gramolazzo. Visitors interested in culture can focus on San Tommaso, the side altar, the frescoed ceiling, the entrance gate and the historic entrances.

Further village selection

For your further selection of villages, you can also view Filicaia.

To the higher-level travel overview: Camporgiano.