Located in the heart of the Apuan Alps Regional Park at 808 metres above sea level, the village of Vinca is immersed in a typical alpine landscape, dominated by the peaks of the Sagro, Grondilice and Pizzo d’Uccello mountains.
The village undoubtedly has centuries-old origins, but the first written traces date back to 1305 when the autonomous municipality of Vinca was founded 'on loan' to the Municipality of Lucca. In 1419, it passed under the dominion of Florence, to which it belonged until its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Evidence of the Florentine dominion is found on the facade of the church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, there are only two original 15th-century Marzocchi existing in the municipality of Fivizzano.
The village and the valley allow you to experience an atmosphere of other times, still retaining characteristics of rural mountain civilization, with pastures and vast chestnut groves with huge, ancient trees where chestnuts are still harvested and made into sweet flour.
Numerous hiking trails depart from Vinca, leading into the heart of the Apuan Alps. They are generally challenging routes with considerable differences in height, so before tackling them it's advised to come with the appropriate equipment and updated information, or to rely on an Environmental or Alpine Guide. The area is also full of walls for climbing.
