Spianate: Discover the Museum, Local History and Sagra

Spianate developed as a rural settlement on the vast plain between Altopascio and the Cerbaie hills. Three specific themes offer a useful guide when planning a stay: the collection at the Fapim Museum, the building history of the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, and the Sagra della Polenda a Palle. Together, they offer different perspectives on the town—from company history and several centuries of local history to an annual August festival. Check the event dates if you would like to plan your trip around the Sagra.

The Fapim Museum: Collection and Visits

The Fapim Museum is located at Via Chimenti 32 in Spianate di Altopascio (LU). Admission is free, but advance booking is required. Visits are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the museum is closed on public holidays, in August, and from December 20 to January 10. Check availability before travelling.

The museum displays more than a thousand objects. The collection includes projects and prototypes, technical drawings, colour samples, workwear and photographs. It also features political, sporting and cultural material dating from 1974 to the present. Alongside the company’s history, the museum conveys the collective memory of the people connected with the company. Technical and visual records are thus presented alongside the history and memories of those associated with the company.

The Building History of San Michele Arcangelo

Spianate’s first settlement took shape in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Church of San Michele Arcangelo was also built. The first church was constructed in 1494 using materials from the Benedictine monastery of San Nazario alle Cerbaie. In 1616, it was expanded and heightened with support from the municipality of Montecarlo and Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici.

A fire severely damaged the church in 1874; it was completely rebuilt between 1874 and 1876. The sequence of construction, expansion and rebuilding gives the town’s history several clearly dated stages. If you are interested in architectural history, you can distinguish the different building phases by period.

Piazza San Michele and Recent Changes

Piazza San Michele has also been upgraded: the redevelopment, completed in 2025, included new paving, renewed pavements and redesigned green spaces. Parking arrangements were reorganised and the parking area expanded. New public lighting and additional street furniture were also installed. Compared with the church’s building history, the redevelopment of the square is a more recent, clearly dated point of reference in Spianate’s development.

Sagra della Polenda a Palle

The Sagra della Polenda a Palle was established in 1976 and takes place every year in August. The programme runs for fifteen days and includes music, entertainment and food. If the festival is a key part of your travel plans, check the specific event dates before travelling.

Polenda a palle is the Sagra’s signature dish, served with rich sauces in keeping with an old tradition from Lucca. The festival combines a programme spanning several days with a dish that defines its culinary identity. For travellers who want to include local food culture alongside the museum and local history, the Sagra offers a distinct focus.

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