Holiday apartment in Montedivalli-Chiesa: Church Art, Genicciola and Panigaccio

Montedivalli-Chiesa combines a location on the southern ridge of Monte Castellaro with ecclesiastical history, landscapes and culinary tradition. Montedivalli is considered a gateway to the Val di Vara. A holiday apartment in Montedivalli-Chiesa may therefore be of interest to you if you would like to combine sacred art, scheduled events, a landscape-focused route and regional cuisine in your travel plans.

Holiday apartment in Montedivalli-Chiesa between ridge location and culture

The Pieve di Sant’Andrea can be traced back to a document dated 19 May 963. Its Romanesque sandstone columns bear plant-shaped and anthropomorphic capitals. The altar was created as part of the comprehensive restoration completed in 2011 and was consecrated by Bishop Giovanni Santucci on 11 December 2011. The Pieve houses statues of the Madonna and Child and the Ecce Homo; you can view them during Mass on Sundays and obligatory feast days. Mass begins at 09:00 on Sundays and also at 09:00 on obligatory feast days. The access road to the historic Pieve is officially called Via della Pieve.

The ecclesiastical calendar at the Pieve includes the feast of Saint Peter on 29 June and the feast of Saint Andrew on 30 November. An Eucharistic vigil takes place every fourth Tuesday of the month from 21:00 to 23:00; it begins with Mass and continues with Eucharistic adoration. The Pieve also serves to preserve and pass on the musical heritage of the ecclesiastical tradition.

San Rocco and regional sites of remembrance

In the present-day village of Chiesa, parish functions were celebrated in the new San Rocco Oratory, which effectively became the parish church. The parish church of San Rocco in Montedivalli-Chiesa contains a memorial plaque commemorating those who fell in the First World War. The parish church of San Rocco has not been accessible for years; the paintings located there are being kept in the Pieve di Sant’Andrea until restoration. The 32nd edition of the San Rocco concert was announced for the forecourt of the San Rocco church in Piazza Eugenio Lenzi.

Genicciola: trail, forest and archaeology

A trail leads to Genicciola from the valley floor near the Pieve di Sant’Andrea in Montedivalli. The trail is considered particularly scenic and offers views of the Vara River, which flows into the Magra farther downstream. The archaeological site of Genicciola lies on a steep slope at the edge of dense chestnut forests and includes terraces built with dry-stone walls. This part of the surrounding area therefore brings together landscapes and visible traces of earlier use.

Panigaccio and the cuisine of Lunigiana

Montedivalli is associated with the production of Panigaccio, a Slow Food Presidium and a typical dish of Lunigiana’s culinary tradition. Panigaccio is an ancient round, unleavened bread from Podenzana, baked on heated terracotta plates. It is served with oil and cheese, pesto or mushroom sauce, or filled with cold cuts and cheese. In Podenzana, the Sagra del Panigaccio is held in August.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Montedivalli-Chiesa, you can focus on the themes you prefer: at the Pieve, on religious services, sacred art and musical tradition; in the direction of Genicciola, on landscapes and archaeology; and, with regard to regional cuisine, on Panigaccio. This allows you to align your accommodation choice with the experiences you are seeking locally.

Further destination: Serralta.

For the higher-level travel overview: Podenzana.