Exploring the Hidden Gems of Ceserana: History, Nature, and Panoramic Views

Today, I had to get back to work and travel to the province of Lucca to meet an important client. However, I had already planned to visit some places that, unfortunately, I hadn’t had the chance to see on previous occasions.
The first place I’ll introduce in this post is the village of Ceserana, a hamlet in the municipality of Fosciandora, located in the province of Lucca in Tuscany.

As soon as I arrived, I was struck by the sign you can see in the photo, which aims to catch drivers' attention and encourage them to slow down because, in this village, children still play in the streets. This is one of those beautiful things that, unfortunately, seems to have faded away in modern society, at least where I come from, but it’s something I also used to do—playing in the streets.
My main goal was to visit the Rocca di Ceserana, or at least what remains of this important castle, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area. It’s definitely an ideal spot for history and nature enthusiasts.

As soon as I arrived, I parked the car and walked up a steep path that wound its way among various houses. There, I took some photos. It seems that quite a few people still live here. But as soon as I passed through an archway, an entrance beneath a house, I found myself in front of a mural probably dedicated to Pinocchio—a story many of you know, and whose author lived not far from here. If you check my previous posts, I’ve already talked about this.

As you know, I’m a big fan of art, so it’s not uncommon to find these murals in the various villages of Tuscany. In my opinion, they only serve to beautify and enhance the landscape.
At first, the climb was fairly easy, as the path was wide and well-trodden. But as I went higher, it became narrower and much steeper. I can imagine it being quite challenging to walk these paths in winter.

After a good walk, I found myself where the castle probably once stood. Some parts of the castle are still standing, but what struck me most was the church, which was likely part of the castle complex. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the church was closed. This is a real pity, as it surely holds some treasures of ancient history inside.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the place because it offered a stunning panoramic view of the surroundings. You could also admire the village from above. I was lucky to have such a beautiful day, which made everything even more enchanting.

I hope the photos I shared were interesting, and, as always, I hope you can visit these places in the near future. I’ll see you in the next post, and as usual, I wish you all a great start to the week!