Church and hospital of San Bartolomeo in Pizzorna
An ancient crossroads and a meeting point
In the area of the Pizzorne Plateau, in Villa Basilica, walking from the Church del Crocifisso for about two kilometres, you can reach the ancient Church of San Bartolomeo and the place where the Hospital of San Bartolomeo was located.
The small, simple and cosy church has a stone altar that preserves the statue of the Saint sculpted in wood and painted. It is assumed that it was built in 1640 and has undergone several restoration works (1700, 1803 and 1906) and major repairs after serious damage during the Second World War.
The Hospital, which can be traced back to the 12th century, was built about ten metres from the church and availed of two rooms with several beds for needy travellers. Remains of the wall and foundations are still present and offer a clear indication of the layout.
The Church and Hospital of San Bartolomeo was attributed significant importance. It was a central point for the “meeting of roadways”, a system that connected Val di Lima, Val di Serchio, the Piana di Lucca and the areas of Pescia and Val di Nievole.
Tradition has it that the residents from the villages surrounding the plateau flocked to this area to participate in the many annual festivals, in particular the solemn feast of the 24 August dedicated precisely to San Bartolomeo and that of the Tuesday preceding the feast of the Ascension for the anniversary of the consecration of the church.
