Attractions

Pontedera | Montecastello

The ancient and picturesque village of Montecastello stands on top of a hill between the Chiecina stream and the Era river, about 5 km from Pontedera.

The Castle and the Wars

The village was an important castle for the control of the plain below. The solid, circular urban layout still preserves the medieval triple walls intact.

Parish church of Santa Lucia

Where the church stands today, there was once a fortress of considerable size, which was long disputed between Pisa, Lucca and Florence. The village of Montecastello had to suffer heavy consequences of these wars until it was almost destroyed and abandoned by most of the population.


The Villa Torrigiani Malaspina

After a period of crisis, the noble Torrigiani Malaspina family settled there in the 18th century and built the villa in the village. The building has a fortified origin: the door on the western side was the main entrance to the village, while the inner courtyard served as a belvedere terrace. Today it is the location of the main events and manifestations in Montecastello.


The Parish church of Santa Lucia

Another important building is the Parish church of Santa Lucia, built in 1260 on the structures of the pre-existing fortress.

It has a simple Romanesque façade, while the interior is divided into three naves with a semicircular apse, in the centre of which is a statue with the saint’s relics. Also of interest is a polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna and Child from the second half of the 15th century.

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