Holiday apartment in Ghivizzano: Gioviano between culture and panoramic views

The processional cross associated with Gioviano dates from between 1300 and 1324. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta in Gioviano is a Romanesque church dating from the 13th century. The cross and the church provide the village with two clearly identifiable cultural points of reference.

Silverwork and art-historical references

The processional cross associated with Gioviano is made of silver and was crafted using hammering, repoussé and chasing techniques. The cross represents a transition between the goldsmithing tradition of Pistoia and the more recent horizon of Lotto, which was adapted to contemporary Pisan painting. Its art-historical classification therefore remains closely linked to the individual cross.

Traces of the castle at the church

The bell tower of the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta stands on the site previously occupied by the tower of the old Castello di Gioviano. The parish church now stands on the grounds of the former Castello di Gioviano. The former tower site is therefore tied to the present church grounds, without this implying the existence of another castle site.

Only a few fragments of the walls of the Castello di Gioviano remain today. These remains stand alongside the information about the former Castello tower site and add to the historical trace of the grounds. The surviving part of the Castello is thus limited to the few wall fragments.

Rughe and views over the Serchio Valley

The narrow “Rughe” form a ring-shaped route through Gioviano. The route passes through the village’s alleyways and therefore differs from a straight connection between two points. From the Prata in Gioviano, there are panoramic views over the Serchio Valley.

Romanesque chapel and short walk

The Oratorio di San Bartolomeo in San Bartolomeo-Gioviano is a Romanesque chapel shaped by various restorations and alterations. From Gioviano, the Oratorio di San Bartolomeo can be reached by a short walk. The Oratorio di San Bartolomeo in the hamlet of Sartana was founded before the year 1000. The restorations and alterations form part of the chapel’s architectural history, while its foundation in Sartana has its own early historical context.

Theater between performances and stage scenery

Borgo è Bellezza repeatedly included theatrical events in Gioviano. These included an event on July 27 and the performance “Non è mica un vanto” on August 13, 2026. During one performance, the historic Filodrammatica di Gioviano used hand-painted theater scenery made in the 1930s. In Gioviano, event dates therefore appear alongside theater scenery dated to the 1930s. The hand-painted backdrops belong to a performance by the historic Filodrammatica di Gioviano.

If you would like to extend your travel plans to include other places, you can also explore Vagli Sotto, Cerageto, Castiglione di Garfagnana, Stazzema, Giuncugnano, Vergemoli, Cardoso and Bagni Di Lucca.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.