Holiday apartment in Porcari: Culture, Nature and the Via Francigena

Porcari is located in the Piana di Lucca on the shores of the ancient Lago di Sesto. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Porcari, you can plan your stay around cultural discoveries, walks through the countryside, or a combination of both.

Churches, Art and Living Tradition

The parish church of Chiesa di San Giusto was built towards the end of the 15th century in place of a much older church. In 1745, it was expanded to three naves, enlarged further in the last century, and completed with the addition of the façade in 1884. Chiesa di San Giusto a Porcari is a white marble church with an adjoining bell tower.

Chiesa di Santa Maria a Porcari contains a panel from the early 16th century attributed to Ranieri di Leonardo. In Porcari, therefore, you encounter different historical periods not only at archaeological sites but also in the town's churches.

The patronal festival Festa di San Giusto in Porcari is celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday and ends with a procession. This gives your travel planning a specific cultural event in the town.

Archaeological Traces from the Bronze Age to Rome

The Area Archeologica di Fossa Nera preserves remains from the Bronze Age, the Etruscan period and the Roman period. The foundations of the Roman Fossa Nera A farm are visible; the complex includes residential areas known as pars urbana and production areas called pars rustica.

Paths have been laid out for visiting the Area Archeologica di Fossa Nera. An additional perspective is offered by the Mostra Archeologica Permanente in the Porcari library, where artefacts from the Area Archeologica di Fossa Nera are displayed. This allows you to view the archaeological evidence both at the site and in an exhibition.

Natural Setting and Paths

The Parco naturale della Torretta covers 30,000 m² of woodland with pine trees, strawberry trees and oaks. From there, panoramic views extend across the entire Piana di Lucca. The park is suitable for walking, spending time in the countryside and relaxing in nature.

The Via Francigena also passes through Porcari, along the section between Lucca and Altopascio. When planning your day, you can combine different interests: a walk in the woods, views across the plain, archaeological traces or a church with a long building history.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Porcari, you can base your decision on the focus you want for your days: the churches and the exhibition represent cultural activities, the Area Archeologica di Fossa Nera combines the site with archaeology, and the Parco naturale della Torretta offers woodland, panoramic views and relaxation. This keeps the town open to different travel interests without committing you to any one of these themes.

More destinations for planning your trip

Camporgiano, Pugliano, Gallicano, Viareggio, Ghivizzano, Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Cerageto and Pescaglia

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.