Coreglia Antelminelli in the province of Lucca
Coreglia Antelminelli is a town located in the middle Serchio Valley, in the province of Lucca. The village rises in a beautiful panoramic position from which it dominates a green valley rich in natural beauty. Behind it stands the majestic Apennines.
Inserted in the prestigious circle of the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, Coreglia Antelminelli is a holiday destination especially in summer when it can offer a much better climate than that of cities. However, the beauties of nature and the climate are not the only reasons of interest; Coreglia has a history that has its roots in the Middle Ages and over time has been enriched with monuments and places of interest.
The name of this village may arouse a certain curiosity. The term Coreglia derives from the Latin word “Corrilia” which means “flowing land or passageway”. Until 1862 the village was simply called Coreglia, then Antelminelli was added to avoid homonyms with other countries such as Coreglia Ligure. Antelminelli is the name of the noble family of Lucca which also included the famous leader Castruccio Castracani.
History
We have news of Coreglia from the X-XI century. At that time there was a small castle here owned by the Rolandinghi, a family of Lombard origin. In the following centuries, Coreglia was linked to Lucca becoming part of the possessions of the Antelminelli family.
Given its strategic importance, Coreglia found itself involved in the struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines which set fire to Italian politics between the 12th and 14th centuries. Conquered by the Guelphs, the fortress of Coreglia was besieged and reconquered by Castruccio Castracani in 1316.
After Castruccio’s death, a succession struggle followed which saw the castle pass first into the hands of Sante Antelminelli and then into those of Francesco Castracani.
With the exception of a brief parenthesis in the early 1400s, when the castle was controlled by Florence, Coreglia remained in the orbit of Lucca. After the 1500s, once the wars for the conquest of Garfagnana were over, the castle of Coreglia Antelminelli lost its strategic importance.
- What to see in Coreglia Antelminelli
- What to do in Coreglia Antelminelli
- What to see in the surroundings
- How to get to Coreglia Antelminelli
What to see in Coreglia Antelminelli
Coreglia Antelminelli preserves several medieval architectures of considerable interest. Among these, the most important are the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, that of San Martino and the fortress. Then there are some beautiful buildings such as that of the Municipality and Palazzo Vanni which houses the Museo della figurina di gesso e dell’emigrazione (Museum of the plaster figurine and emigration). To these are added also Palazzo Antonimi and Palazzo Vincenti.
Church of San Michele Arcangelo
The Church of San Michele Arcangelo dates back to the 12th century. This was the church of the castle of Coreglia and was enlarged in the 14th century, when the old castle was replaced by the new fortress. Its bell tower was originally one of the towers of the castle which was adapted on that occasion. Other interventions date back to the nineteenth century, when the church was raised and the apse was rebuilt, and to the twentieth century.
Looking at the façade, the nineteenth-century intervention can be easily seen since the wall face changes significantly above the hanging arches that once marked the base of the roof.
Church of San Martino
The Church of San Martino also dates back to the Middle Ages. This church was built between the ninth and eleventh centuries, although further interventions date back to the Renaissance. The various construction phases do not seem to have followed a well-defined scheme and the church today has a fairly unusual plan (it seems almost wider than it is long). Inside the apse is preserved a fresco with the Assumption of the Virgin.
Museo della figurina di gesso e dell’emigrazione “G. Lera”
Between the 16th and 17th centuries the tradition of plaster statues developed in Coreglia Antelminelli. Since then the village has been the home of masters “figurinai” who have exported this art all over the world.
Established by the municipality in 1975, the plaster figurine and emigration museum is dedicated to this artistic tradition. Since then, the museum has collected 1300 examples of plaster figurines. The museum is also interesting because it deals with the migratory phenomenon that led Coreglia’s figurines to travel all over the world to sell their works.
What to do in Coreglia Antelminelli
The territory of Coreglia Antelminelli is characterized by luxuriant nature and breathtaking landscapes. Hills and mountains covered with green woods offer the opportunity for pleasant excursions and trips out of town.
Events
Over the course of the year Coreglia is animated by a series of events that attract numerous visitors. The Rassegna delle Fisarmoniche, which is a music festival dedicated to accordions, is held at the end of July. The Medieval Festival with the historical parade of the Compagnia degli Alabardieri della Vicaria di Coreglia takes place in mid-August. In nearby Ghivizzano, at the beginning of September, there is the Norcini a castello event, an excellent opportunity to taste the typical local products. Also very interesting is the Concorso Nazionale di Scultura, that is a sculpture contest organized by the Museo della Figurina di gesso e dell’immigrazione.
What to see in the surroundings of Coreglia Antelminelli
In the vicinity, the village of Ghivizzano with its medieval castle and the church of Saints Peter and Paul is definitely worth a visit. In Tereglio, the church of Santa Maria Assunta is certainly worth a visit, where an extraordinary crucifix from the mid-13th century is preserved.
Remaining in the Middle Serchio valley, I cannot fail to mention Barga which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here there are several monuments to see starting with the magnificent Cathedral of San Cristoforo. Bagni di Lucca is also a village that offers numerous points of interest; above all I point out the possibility of rafting in the streams of the area. Continuing a little further south you reach Borgo a Mozzano with the famous and beautiful Ponte del Diavolo.
How to get to Coreglia Antelminelli
Coreglia is located about 35 km from Lucca, 55 km from Pisa and 100 from Florence. There is no train station in the historic center of the village; the closest is that of Ghivizzano-Coreglia which is located about 7 kilometers from the village. This station is regularly served by regional trains (30-40 minute journey from Lucca).
By car, sevenite from Lucca (45 ‘) you have to take State Road 12 and Provincial Road 20 in the direction of Borgo a Mozzano and then Coreglia. If you come from the other capitals of Tuscany, you must add the trip to this itinerary to get to Lucca first.
