Lugliano: Medieval Traces, Church Art and the Via Romana

You can reach Lugliano via the Brenner State Road shortly after crossing the Buliesima stream. The town is marked by a still-recognisable medieval layout, the Castello di Lugliano and the Chiesa di San Jacopo Apostolo. There are two oratories in the square in front of this church, and inside the church is a polychrome terracotta Madonna and Child. Completing this picture are a boxwood maze at Villa Politi and the Via Romana, with its various historical landmarks. Lugliano’s cultural character thus encompasses the town’s layout, individual works of art and a route with several historical points of interest.

Medieval Layout and the Castello

Lugliano’s medieval layout is still recognisable. A road runs along the entire perimeter wall. Locals call the wall “fil di cima, fil di mezzo, fil di fondo”. The Castello di Lugliano stands at the highest point of the settlement; it is the oldest part of Lugliano. Its first reliable mention dates back to 1244. Its position at the highest point shows where the Castello stands within the settlement, while the year 1244 provides a historical date. As an ancient fortress belonging to the Suffredinghi family, Lugliano dominates the Lima Valley as well as Ponte a Serraglio. The town’s history thus brings together its still-recognisable settlement layout, the Castello and its traditional role as a fortress.

Church Art and Two Oratories

There are two oratories in the square in front of the Chiesa di San Jacopo in Lugliano. The Oratorio del Santissimo Nome di Gesù is west of the church, while the Oratorio della Natività di Maria is to the east. The compass directions distinguish the two oratories within the same church setting and pinpoint their locations. The Chiesa di San Jacopo Apostolo also houses a polychrome terracotta Madonna and Child by Benedetto Buglioni. Polychrome means decorated in multiple colours: the material, subject and artist’s name identify this work of art more precisely than a general reference to the church. The two oratories in the square and the artwork inside the church thus represent different aspects of Lugliano’s religious heritage.

The Via Romana and Its Historical Landmarks

Following the traces of surviving remains of ancient roads of Roman origin, the Via Romana passes various bridges and medieval buildings that are still intact, as well as churches and pievi. The first visits are to the church in Ponte a Serraglio and the church in Lugliano. A change of perspective helps put these landmarks in context: the Castello and the churches are individual features of the town, while the Via Romana draws attention to a variety of architectural and religious landmarks along the route. It therefore encompasses more than visits to individual churches and offers a different way to experience the area’s historical variety than focusing on a single building.

The Boxwood Maze at Villa Politi

Another precisely measured feature can be found at Villa Politi in Lugliano: a rectangular boxwood maze. It is 8.50 metres wide and 16 metres long, so its longer side is almost twice the length of its shorter side. The proportions give a clear sense of the maze’s shape. Alongside its medieval buildings and religious sites, the maze adds a botanical design feature with clearly defined dimensions to Lugliano’s cultural character.

Discover more destinations: Casabasciana, Scesta, Lucchio, Benabbio, Fornoli, Granaiola, Crasciana, Montefegatesi.

For the main travel guide: Bagni Di Lucca.