Exploring Colognola di Pescaglia: Another Hidden Gem in Tuscany

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Hello dear friends,

Today's post is a continuation of the previous one, let me explain further—it's a continuation of my exploration during the days I spent in the province of Lucca. Specifically, Colognola di Pescaglia is a hamlet of the municipality of Pescaglia in the province of Lucca. Another beautiful gem like Vetriano, it's located nearby, so if you're in this area, you can enjoy a unique excursion to these two beautiful villages, which are partly abandoned.

This village is also a labyrinth of narrow streets, and it seems that an American director once used this setting for a film. Of particular interest is the National Chestnut Museum, established in 1985 to collect tools and equipment related to rural life. Unfortunately, with my usual luck, I found it closed and couldn't determine its opening hours, which is a real shame.

Externally, you can still see some tools that were once used. I began my walk with a steep climb, and as usual, one thing I noticed immediately is that this village is adorned with numerous flowers—it's a delight not only for the sense of smell but also for the eyes.

Continuing my serene walk, I came across a house with a plaque on its facade indicating that Alfredo Catalani spent his childhood and youth here. The name didn't mean anything to me initially, but after a quick internet search, I discovered he was an Italian composer of operas in the 1800s. This was truly an interesting discovery—I never would have thought I would find the home of such an important figure in music in a place like this.

I continued my walk, stopping occasionally to admire these beautiful houses, each unique with small details that set them apart.
Another discovery I made, from the informational signs at the beginning of the village, was that chestnut wood was used in the construction of these houses, for example, in the floors, roofs, and places where agricultural tools were stored.

This shows how resources were once used for multiple purposes, especially chestnut, which remains very important for Tuscany today.

I hope my story was interesting, along with my photos. As I mentioned earlier, you can certainly combine an exploration of the previous village with this one, but stay tuned because there's another one nearby that I'll be sharing about soon! So, see you soon! Hello everyone!