When in the Valle del Lucido near the Apuan Alps, don't miss a visit to the village of Gragnola in the Municipality of Fivizzano. The name comes from its origins in the late Middle Ages as a market place for the flourishing grain trade.
However, much about the foundation of the settlement remains mysterious. According to some historical studies, Gragnola is the 'Forum Clodi', a location reported in the oldest European 'road atlas' in history, known as the Tabula Puetingeriana that dates back to the early Middle Ages.
What's certain is that in 1366, having detached from the branch of the Marquis Malaspina di Fosdinovo, an independent fiefdom was formed, taking its name from the nearby Aquila Castle, the imposing fortified structure that dominates the village. Gragnola remained an enclave of Fosdinovo in the territory of Fivizzano until 1982, when a referendum of the population sanctioned its municipal passage.
The importance that this village once had is evidenced in the remains of the walls built along the entire perimetre of the town, with the exception of the south side where the houses had a defensive function. The buildings have marble mullioned windows, and valuable sandstone doorways are found in several stores.
To visit the village that's home to the church of Saints Ippolito and Cassiano and the marble fountain in Piazza San Nicola, enter from the gate near the bridge over the Lucido stream.
