San Donato: Church History and the Via Matildica

San Donato is a typical rural estate with a manor house and farm outbuildings. Two specific points of interest add to its rural character: the small Church of San Donato and the Via Matildica del Volto Santo. Several historical periods converge at the church; the route climbs uphill from Valdottavo through woodland and quiet, then continues towards Lucca. If you are considering San Donato as a destination, you can choose between church history, hiking, or a combination of the two.

Rural Village, Church and Bell Tower

The small Church of San Donato is located on the edge of the village of Domazzano. Its present form dates from the 12th century; it was first mentioned in 1181. These details mark two different points in history: the dating of its present form and its first mention are not the same. Together, they establish an early historical context for the church without reducing both dates to a single construction date.

The bell tower dates from the post-medieval period and stands apart from the church, across the road. Two distinctions are therefore important: the church and tower are physically separate, and they do not date from the same period. The nearby Church of San Lorenzo also has medieval origins. This extends the historical context beyond a single building without implying that the two churches are architecturally identical.

On the Via Matildica del Volto Santo

The Via Matildica del Volto Santo climbs uphill from Valdottavo to San Donato and its small church. The ascent once again passes through woodland and quiet. The combination of pilgrimage route and church brings together two perspectives on San Donato: movement through the landscape and the medieval history of the building. For planning purposes, it is useful to distinguish the climb to San Donato from the route details that follow.

Beyond San Donato, the Via Matildica leads to a shared cycling and walking path that runs alongside a stream for approximately 10 kilometres towards Lucca. Check the exact trail conditions before hiking this route. The approximate distance describes the path, not the walking time. A distance of 31 km and a duration of eight hours are also given for one stage of the Via Matildica. These published route details may be changed by the route authority. The information about the shared path and the stage refers to different planning scales; the eight hours should not be taken as the walking time for the path alongside the stream.

Another clearly dated point of interest in the landscape is the Gothic Line. In June 2025, a guided hike set out from San Donato along a historic nature trail featuring well-preserved machine-gun positions, trenches and bunkers from the historic Gothic Line. The June hike adds another historical perspective to the church-related points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Valdottavo, Ponte Della Maddalena, Diecimo, Gioviano

Go to the main travel overview: Borgo A Mozzano.