Holiday apartment in Montuolo – Pieve, mountains and cycling tour

Montuolo is a destination for you if you would like to combine cultural history, landscapes and physical activity during your holiday. Choosing a holiday apartment in Montuolo can be based on different interests: a religious building with a long history, cultural attractions in the surrounding area, mountains and a beach farther afield in the wider region. A cycling tour also passes through Montuolo, adding an active perspective to the historical impressions.

The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista and its frescoes

The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista dates back to the 8th century. It was raised in 1829 and extended in 1860; in the process, it was transformed from a basilica into a building with a Latin cross layout. Its monochrome neoclassical decoration bears the date 1825. Traces of frescoes from the first half of the 16th century have been preserved on the walls; they are attributed to the circle of the workshop of Zacchia il Vecchio.

The Pieve also contains a 16th-century fresco of the Trinity with Santo Stefano and San Giuseppe. Another fresco depicts San Giovanni Battista baptising Jesus and may date from the 14th century. This gives the building several specific points of interest for anyone wishing to explore historical architecture and religious art together on a trip to Montuolo.

Historical traces of Montuolo

The name Montuolo also reaches far back into history: it first appears in the year 1000. The place was formerly known as Flexo. This name derives from a bend in the Ozzeri Canal, an old branch of the Serchio. Historically, Montuolo was a small village of farmers and fishermen. Its waterways, the development of its name and rural ways of life therefore add further facets to the architectural history of the Pieve.

Museums, palaces and mountains in the surrounding area

Several cultural attractions are located near Montuolo: the Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi and the Gabinetto di Storia Naturale are museums; the Santini Palace and the Gigli Palace are palaces. These places broaden the cultural scope of a trip without repeating the local history of the Pieve. This allows you to combine different interests during your stay.

The landscape can also be viewed on different scales. Monte Serra, Monte Cascetto and M. Moraglio are mountains in the area around Montuolo. Spiaggia Lido di Camaiore is a beach farther afield in the wider region. When planning your stay in a holiday apartment in Montuolo, this creates a clear thematic range spanning local history, mountain landscapes and a more distant beach destination.

An easy cycling tour through Montuolo

For active days, there is a specific cycling option: an easy tour of approximately 30 km starts at Piazza Verdi in Lucca and leads via Montuolo, Ripafratta, Molina di Quosa and San Giuliano Terme. The tour can be booked at least 15 days in advance and for a minimum of 10 people. If you are travelling with several people, this route can be planned as a separate activity alongside the cultural and historical attractions. Its approximate length, starting point and stages provide a clearly recognisable framework for planning the excursion.

Further places for your planning

Piaggione, San Lorenzo A Vaccoli, Nozzano Castello, Cerasomma, Farneta, San Pietro A Vico, Santa Maria Del Giudice, San Macario In Monte

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.