Ponticello

Historic village and intricate labyrinth of tunnels, arches and fortified houses

The small village of Ponticello in Lunigiana, located in the municipality of Filattiera, developed during the 14th and 15th centuries along the stretch of the Via Francigena which crosses Caprio valley, a tributary of Magra river in Lunigiana.

Ponticello is an intricate labyrinth of galleries, arches and fortified houses, entirely built in stone, and full of small squares, courtyards and alleys. What makes it unique is the large number of covered passages: pointed, round and barrel arches that connect the houses with suggestive passages and represent a true compendium of medieval architecture.

The center is easily reachable by car taking the Pontremoli motorway exit and continuing south on the Cisa state road for 5 km.

The medieval village

The main access to the village is represented by the 17th-century oratory dedicated to Saints Rocco and Bernardo, recognizable by the copper dome which was added in the 19th century following a restoration.

Among the most significant peculiarities of the village, and of Caprio Valley, are the tower-houses, locally known as "caminà". In fact, next to the oratory there are two buildings, formerly with residential and defensive functions, for the control of the Via Francigena and communication with other similar structures in the area. These dwellings, originally conceived as fortified buildings, had an entrance on the first floor accessible via a retractable staircase; the rooms were located on the upper floors, while the ground floor, equipped only with slits, served as a warehouse.

In more recent times, Ponticello, with its historical heritage, managed to survive the events of the Second World War: the proximity to a Navy garrison inevitably led the village to suffer bombings, which however fortunately caused little damage, thus allowing Ponticello to remain almost intact up to the present day.

And it is precisely this resilience that led Ponticello to revive through the annual event "I Mestieri nel Borgo", an event that celebrates ancient local craftsmanship, preserving its knowledge and tradition.