Metato: Cave Finds, Sacred Buildings and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Metato
Metato brings together archaeological sites, historic sacred buildings and hiking trails with different routes. If you are planning a stay here, you can explore cultural history and outdoor activities as separate interests. Cave finds, buildings and routes offer different perspectives on the area; their specific differences can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.
Cave Finds and How They Differ
Buca del Tasso is near the hamlet of Metato, in the municipality of Camaiore, at an altitude of 415 metres. The fossilised thigh bone of a child of about nine years old was found there. An anthropological examination identified the bone as belonging to Homo neanderthalensis. The find therefore provides a tangible link to human history and differs from the other archaeological finds in the surrounding area.
Grotta della Fibula is a cave on the left bank of the Rio dei Colli, below Metato. A bronze fibula of the “Certosa” type was found there. The garment clasp is attributed to the Ligurian Apuan culture and dated to the 4th–3rd century BC. Unlike the fossilised thigh bone, this find centres on an object with a specific cultural attribution and date.
Grotta del Tambugione opens above Metato on the western slope of Monte Ciurlaglia, just beyond the Schizzolino quarry. Human bones, pottery fragments, stone tools and animal remains were found in the cave. These groups of finds give the site a different character from the single fibula or the human fossil: here, different kinds of material are found together.
Taken together, the archaeological highlights range from a human find identified through anthropological examination, to a dated bronze object, to several groups of finds.
Church and Wayside Shrine in Metato
The religious buildings also differ in age. Metato is home to the 18th-century Church of Santa Maria Assunta. A wayside shrine was built by the Benassi family in the 17th century. The shrine is therefore older than the church; at the same time, these two different forms of religious architecture—a small devotional structure and a church building—stand side by side.
Hikes: Road, Mule Track and Circular Route
Metato lies at the foot of a spur of Monte Prana. A route from Metato to Rifugio Paolo Barsi follows a concrete road through the forest to LocalitĂ Falcigoli. The C7 trail follows a different kind of route: it starts at the car park below Metato and descends along a mule track to the junction for Castello di Montecastrese. The castle itself is a fortress on a hill near the small village of Lombrici.
From a junction shortly before Lombrici, Metato is 3.3 kilometres away. The circular route via Metato, Monte Ciurlaglia, Focetta San Vincenzo and Casa Mutoro starts and ends at the Metato car park, at an altitude of 393 metres. An excursion took place on the circular route on 01/02/2026.
The CAI 104 trail is graded E; however, some sections are very steep and have no exposed stretches. Take both details into account when assessing the route, and check the current trail conditions locally before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Valpromaro Di Camaiore, Capezzano Pianore, Montemagno, Fibbiano, Santa Lucia, Fibbialla, Gombitelli, Greppolungo.
Return to the main travel guide: Camaiore.
