This is a sport and recreational activity, that is also a good way to fulfill a fine relationship with the environment, the sustainable development of tourism and the preservation of historical routes and trails.

Our agritourism - IL LAGO - is engaged in the preservation of its historical environment, and the enhancement of any kind of road, path etc.in the area surrounding Casoli Val di Lima, that is full of chariot roads, mule roads, trails, paths between houses and properties, once used by residents, and now almost abandoned. The target is to promote country tourism.

Trekking and hiking in Casoli: a little history

Today, the road system is the final result of the superposition of previous road systems, some of them very old. The main routes of the area (until the 10th century) used to be 2: the pre-roman way from Emilia to the Serchio river valley, and a system of paths to link Emilia with the Valdinievole, the Pizzorne mountains and the Bientina (Fossa Nera), through the valleys of the Serchio river and the Lima stream.

The pre-roman way, passing through the Appennini mountains via Vico Pancellorum, reaches Casoli and then goes down to Cocciglia and Palleggio. It goes up to Controneria area through Corsena and the Camaione, then it connects to the Roman road “Clodia Nova”, going from Lucca to Castelnuovo Garfagnana, and then to the Magra river valley. This way is labeled pre-roman, because archeologists agree it actually was the old “amber and iron road”, used by Etruscans to transport amber from Polesine (Frattesina) and iron ores from Elba island to Marzabotto. This pre-roman way – later used by the Romans to conquer the territory, and then matched in many parts by the medieval “Via Lombarda” – left interesting names and historical traces in the Casoli area.

Two old stone bridges (made of a Roman style single arch) on the pre-roman way are named “Ponte Maggio” and “Ponte Nero”, deriving from the Roman toponymic “pons maior” and “pons minus”. The system of caves and stone structures at the entrance of Casoli (where a stone is placed, carved with germanic alphabet words) seems to be a “hospitale” (hospital, rest area) on the Via Lombarda.

The system of paths connecting Emilia with the Valdinievole, the Pizzorne mountains and the Bientina, may be divided in two routes: the first going from Val di Lima to Valdinievole, through a place named “Le Pracchie di Pontito”, near the ancient “Cella della Croce Brandelliana”, and through the “Villa di Lagovectio” - today cancelled by time – then going to Casoli along the pre-roman way; the second, from the Pizzorne mountains, passed through the villages of Crasciana and Casabasciana, then connecting with the first route by Lagovectio, in a place named “Madonna di Colle a Piano”, where a small 16th century oratory (semiruined) is still in place.

A complicated net of roads started from this two routes, and made a transportation system that was very effective. Among the many branches, some of them are noticeable: one connecting “Le Pracchie di Pontito” to the Lucchio fortress, passing through a valley denominated “Vallemagna”; one connecting Casoli to Casabasciana, at a lower height than the way through Lagovectio. This system of roads, too, left interesting names and historical traces.

Analyzing carefully the old roads system, as a whole, it can be argued that Casoli used to be an important juncture, because it hosted a lake and strong fortress, controlling the Lima valley from a rocky high place, as well the pre-roman way in both directions. Not by chance, beside the lake (source of life and wealth) two important villas were built, already registered in the 10th century: Lagovectio and Lacu (or Lacho), of which the old romanesque church remains, with the ruins of houses and fortification walls. Regarding the fortress, it deserved to be defined “inexpugnable” by an officer from Florence – Rinaldo degli Albizzi – in a document of the beginning of the 15th century. It actually was: the fortress was never conquered. But, right in the 15th century, it began to lose its importance, and it was gradually dismantled by the residents, who used the stones to build their houses. Some very big stone - made of cave limestone - formerly part of the outer walls (maybe of Etruscan origin) are still clearly visible in the houses’ corners and foundation.

The toponym “Col di Contini”, referred to a high ground that is exactly placed at the center of the system, derives from pre-roman “contu”, meaning “crossing”. “Casoli” itself (or Casulle, Casule, Casori, Chasule - in the diverse documents, written since the 10th century – always deriving from the latin “casa”, in its diminutive form “casula”) recalls a place of numerous “casette” or “casine” (small houses), so hinting at a village that used to be densely populated, probably for busy transit of people and goods. Many place-names in the Casoli area reveal an influence that comes through the Appennine mountains, so furtherly demonstrating its strategic position as a crossing. A system of caves and menhirs of prehistoric age, with carved phallic and vulvar symbols, and a solar calendar that is probably of Celtic origin, are precious hints of that. Moreover, there are hints that it could be a sacred area – maybe a sanctuary – dedicated to fertility (hinted by the water element): hints like the proximity of the lake (that once was larger and water richer), and tens of coppellas (prehistoric concave carvings), carved in stone, the oldest among them dating back to the Paleolithic age.

All this would demonstrate that the area was busy in very old ages, not only for its strategic location, but also for religious and cultural matters. The most noticeable attestation is the Grotta della Piella (Piella cave), near the lake, used until the 3rd and 4th centuries A.C. for religious purposes, as it is showed by archaeological findings of special materials and remnants of animals. Probably, with christendom the cave – as a sacred place – was abandoned and partially damaged.

It is worth noting that a 16th century oratory - located at the entrance of the old Ponte Nero (“pons minus”) – is dedicated to San Rocco, patron of travellers.

In 1998 the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) equipped 2 paths with signs, the first conneting Casoli and Lucchio, along a road named “della Sambuca e di Lucchio”, the second going from Casoli to “Le Pracchie di Pontito”, passing through the place named “Lago di Casoli” (Casoli’s lake).

Moreover, in the 70s, the CAI equipped a side of the peak, named “Balzo della Lezza”, as a climbing training wall, just behind Casoli village. That equipped wall, that has never been used, after so many years, would need a control by experts, to verify its general conditions and safety. In the same area, a chariot road was built by the “Comunità Montana della Valle del Serchio” (Mountain Community of the Serchio Valley), going from Casoli to “Il Solcaccio”, passing by the lake, and other small roads, used by woodcutters for wood transportation.

To complete this roads system, a chariot road was recently built, connecting Casabasciana, Pontito and Stiappa (in the Pistoia province), passing through “Le Pracchie di Pontito” and connecting with the road from Lucchio (via Zato) at “Croce di Veglia”. This road is hard to be run and would need maintenance; it goes along the crest of the hill in front of Casoli, at an height of about 900 metres.

PATHS AND ROADS IN DETAILS

Pre-roman way or Via Lombarda: from Ponte Maggio to Ponte Nero, passing through Casoli.

Paths system connecting Casoli and “Le Pracchie di Pontito”, made of: strada vicinale (road passing between houses) delle Ravi (starting from Casoli, passing by the Lake of Casoli, reaching Grotta dei Porci, where the Solco di Colle a Piano or di Covelli flows into Solco del Monte, under an area named “Delicata”; strada vicinale del Lago e della Ganga (from Casoli, passing by the Lake of Casoli, going through Bovecchia, connecting with strada vicinale di Botro e di Lezza Rossa); strada vicinale di Botro e di Lezza Rossa (it starts as a continuaiton of strada vicinale del Lago e della Ganga, beyond Botrino and Botra, going through Solco del Monte, connecting to Luogo del Monte to climb Mount Memoriante).

Strada vicinale di Sant’Agata: it starts as a ramification of strada vicinale del Lago e della Ganga, it goes up to Sant’Andrea’s church, near the Lake of Casoli.

Strada vicinale di Sant’Andrea: it starts as a continuation of strada vicinale di Sant’Agata, at the church of Sant’Andrea a Lago, and it reaches Colle a Piano (or Col del Piano). After Colle a Piano, many other roads start from this road: strada di Collacci (a short track connecting Strada vicinale di Sant’Andrea,Strada vicinale di Pracchia and Strada vicinale di Ceseto); strada vicinale di Cornia (connecting Colle a Piano and Le Cronie, an old peasants’ settlement, now abandoned); strada vicinale delle Mozze (starting under Le Cornie, passing through Mucchietto to go to Pian delle Polle).

Strada vicinale di Pracchia: it starts in a location named Santi, and after ancient chestnut trees (with interesting names like: Carletto, Marciano, Incanti) it goes up to le Pracchie di Pontito. Beyond other roads along this way, Strada vicinale di Pracchiais the continuation of strade vicinali di Sant’Agata and Sant’Andrea, and it is the link between Casoli Val di Lima and Pontito, so being the link between Val Di Lima and Val di Nievole.

Strada vicinale di Ceseto: it starts in Solcaccio, as a continuation of strada dei Collacci, goes through ancient chestnut trees, with interesting names: Alle Nozze and Pupitano.

Paths system starting from strada comunale “di Colle a Piano e del Crocicchio”: it goes up along the crest of Mount Foggetta. It is made of: strada vicinale del Metato Nero (black metato); strada comunale di Campiglia; strada vicinale del Metato Vecchio (old metato); strada vicinale del Metato Nuovo (new metato); strada vicinale della Fratta.

Strada vicinale Possessore del Terme: it starts from Colle a Piano.

Strada comunale Casoli-Casabasciana: it connects the two villages.

Strada vicinale del Colle: it starts from Casoli, it reaches an area named Certini (under the Lake of Casoli), that used to be intensely cultivated.

Strada vicinale di Gino: connecting Casoli and Colle a Piano, via Certini.

Strada comunale della Sambuca or di Lucchio: ancient road between Casoli and Lucchio, still partially paved.

Strada vicinale “del Corvo vecchio e di Vallemagna”: it starts from a place named Uscetto, near Luogo del Monte, passing through Vallemagna and connecting (at Lezza Trugura) with strada comunale della Sambuca (or di Lucchio).