Holiday apartment in Pracchia: Reno Valley, railway history and hiking

Pracchia between the Reno Valley and railway history

Pracchia lies in a narrow, deep valley crossed by the Reno River. This valley location forms the scenic setting for the village. The Reno is part of Pracchia’s geographical setting, while its railway history belongs to the development of the village. In the narrow valley, the river landscape and transport history are directly connected.

Historical traces in the village

The history and development of Pracchia are closely linked to the construction of the first railway across the Apennines, the Porrettana. The Ferrovia Alto Pistoiese from Pracchia is also part of this history: it operated until 30 September 1965; it was then closed and the line dismantled. Another historical feature is the Church of S. Lorenzo a Pracchia, which was elevated from an oratory to a parish church in 1687.

The former FAP railway station building in Pracchia stands on a spacious square between the right bank of the Reno River and the state railway station serving the nearby Porrettana railway. The station building is therefore located between the Reno riverbank and the railway connection via the Porrettana. The square brings together the former FAP building, the right riverbank and the state railway station in a distinctive local setting.

Hiking with a railway connection

The Sentiero delle Stazioni hike begins in Pracchia and ends in Piteccio. The starting point of this hike can be reached by train from Pistoia railway station. Pracchia is one of the villages on the Pistoia side of the Porrettana railway line; the still-active line is served daily by trains between Pistoia and Porretta. The railway connection links the starting point of the hike with the transport history of the village, without changing the endpoint in Piteccio.

Another way to combine landscape and history is the Pracchia-Orsigna route. After approximately 1 km, it reaches the recently restored historic watermill Molino di Giamba. The approximately 1 km remains an approximate distance indication. The restored watermill is a specific historic point along the route.

Mountains around Pracchia

The mountains Poggio del Castelluccio, Poggio del Papa and Poggio Fuso are located in the immediate vicinity of Pracchia. In addition to the Reno Valley, the landscape around Pracchia therefore also includes three mountains.

Cultural attractions in the surrounding area

The surrounding area of Pracchia also includes the ruins of Badia A Taona, the Museo dell'Ospedale del Ceppo, the Museo dell'Antico Ospedale Del Ceppo and the Palazzo Fabroni. For those interested in culture, the area around Pracchia therefore offers ruins, museums and a palace as specific attractions alongside the village’s railway history.

Further places for your orientation

Montecatini Terme, Cecina, Panicagliora, Stiappa, San Marcello Pistoiese, Chiesina Uzzanese, Pistoia, Cutigliano

To the higher-level travel overview: Pistoia.