The Itinerary

The Memory Trail, strongly desired and realized by La Racchetta OdV Section Montespertoli, connects two rural locations where, in the summer of 1944, the local population built natural shelters, dug into the local rock, seeking refuge from the dangers of Allied bombings advancing from the South. Along with farmhouses, small rural villages, places of worship, kilns, the network of springs and mills, and the landscape architecture, the trail touches on the deep, identity-forming, and memorial value of the local population. This value of peace is what this trail aims to share and exchange with all who come to walk along it. The trail also offers glimpses of nature shaped by humans, as the two areas hosting the 1944 shelters are immersed in a wooded context that has not been cut for several decades. With the abandonment of the countryside in the mid-20th century, there has been a lush development of vegetation, which now has notable natural value, including a rich fauna.
The trail begins at the small church of Corfecciano and heads towards the houses visible to the Southeast, slightly higher but not reaching them, turning at the height of the vineyard and descending left into the small wood where the first group of shelters, known as “del Migliorini,” is located. Here, in July 1944, entire families with their working animals, which were coveted by the retreating German troops, took refuge. After this evocative site, the trail ascends the ridge through vineyards to reach the ancient agricultural village of Ghisone (inhabited since the mid-14th century as a property of the Florentine monastery of Monticelli); here, one can purchase wine, oil, and agricultural products. Descend along the white road to the rural residence of Sodole, turn right, and quickly reach the village of Fornacette. The microtoponym refers to the historical presence of kilns here.
Crossing the provincial road and passing through the village, continue along the flat course of the river Virginiolo to the small bridge (the second one), located just before the locality of Mulinaccio; this site, which housed one of the 12 mills along the Virginio River in the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, now hosts the “Opera Francescana della Pietà” with its own Faith path in the internal area.
After crossing the bridge, ascend to the houses of S. Giusto di Sotto and di Sopra, where, until the mid-15th century, one of the three medieval churches of the Lucardo castle, San Giusto, stood. This title was later incorporated into the church located on the lawn immediately below the Lucardo castle. Today, these farmhouses are agricultural businesses selling their products. After passing the locality, continue ascending more steeply along a cobbled path leading straight to the top of the hill, passing by other historic rural dwellings (Torricella and Fontereggi), until reaching the ridge where you join another white road. This point offers a panoramic view from Northwest to Southwest: in front of you stand the profiles of Monte Serra, the Apuan Alps, and the Pistoian Apennines. Quickly reach the square hosting the church of Saints Martin and Giusto at Lucardo and the Nuti-Lenzoni palace. The church has ancient origins (1093) as evidenced by an inscription in the sacristy and now holds valuable artworks including a painting by Botticini. The Nuti-Lenzoni palace is one of the three historically present farms on the Lucardo hill, which served not only as a noble residence but also as an agricultural center with dependent farms organized under sharecropping until the mid-20th century.
Return to the square in front of the church and take the country road heading West, next to the aqueduct depot, which descends steeply to Casa Ghiole. Cross the provincial road (be cautious, the bend upstream offers poor visibility!) and continue descending between vineyards and olive groves with a view, reaching the agricultural company Le Valli at Lucardo, which offers pizzeria service by reservation along with its products. Here, leave the paved road to enter a walnut and cherry plantation and then into the dense forest, where the descent becomes steep with some hairpin bends leading to another evocative place dominated by silence: the Pesciola shelters, also dug into the vertical rock like the others. Here, in July 1944, many of the Lucardo villagers sought refuge to escape cannon fire, the looting of animals, and the abduction of people by retreating German troops. Continue through the forest for about a kilometer, then exit into an olive grove and, via country paths, reach the provincial road. Crossing it (be cautious!), you can reconnect to the outbound trail at the village of Ghisone and, from there, to the church of Corfecciano.