Montemagno: Discover its paths and history

Montemagno brings together distinctive features of the landscape and visible traces of its history. The ascent on the Via Francigena led to a holm oak almost a thousand years old; the remains of a medieval castle can be seen on a hill above the village. The story of the Leccio di Montemagno and a woodcarving symposium are also among the area’s distinctive local topics. When planning your trip, you can consider nature, route descriptions, historic buildings and culture separately. If you are looking for a hotel in Montemagno, you can first consider whether the paths or the area’s history should be the focus of your stay.

The Leccio di Montemagno and its legacy

The steep ascent on the Via Francigena led to the Leccio di Montemagno, a holm oak almost a thousand years old. The centuries-old tree was said to be Giorgio Gaber’s favourite and fell after storms in November 2019. In its memory, saplings of the Leccio were planted with the participation of local schools. The story therefore includes not only the old tree’s natural history, but also a local remembrance initiative. The Leccio thus connects a distinctive name in the landscape with a story that extends from the former tree to the commemorative plantings.

Castle remains above the village

Remains of the castle are visible on a hill above Montemagno. They include parts of the perimeter wall and the façade of the Church of San Bartolomeo, dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. The medieval castle served two distinct purposes: it was a lordly residence and a refuge during sieges. Its strategic position above the Via Francigena also linked it to the route connecting the Versilia plain with Lucca. The visible sections of wall and the castle’s recorded function therefore tell two different aspects of its story: what can be seen today as structural remains also points to the castle’s historical role.

Routes and landscape

Two route descriptions are especially useful for hikers. A section of the Via Francigena starts at the Leccio di Montemagno and runs along the north side of the Church of San Michele di Montemagno. The Anello di Camaiore Antiqua, the Pontemazzori–Montemagno–Pontemazzori loop, is a separate route. It includes an almost flat forest section of about 2.5 kilometres to Località alla Trina above Montemagno. The descriptions highlight different route features: the ascent on the Via Francigena is described as steep, while the loop’s forest section is almost flat and about 2.5 kilometres long. This lets you assess the named sections according to their descriptions without combining them into a single route profile. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out on a hike.

Woodcarving symposium

An announcement dated 5 May 2026 publicised the woodcarving symposium in Montemagno. It described the event as the fifth consecutive edition. According to the announcement at the time, twelve chainsaw-carving masters were expected on Saturday 9 May and Sunday 10 May to create new wooden statues. The planned sculptures were to remain in Montemagno as part of an open-air museum, according to that announcement.

The route descriptions focus on something different from the castle and symposium: they identify specific sections and distinguish a steep ascent from an almost flat stretch through the woods. The historical topics, in turn, range from the castle’s medieval role to the remembrance of the Leccio that fell. These distinctions can help you include Montemagno in your travel plans according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Torcigliano, Orbicciano, Lido Di Camaiore, Pontemazzori, Fibbialla, Metato, Capezzano Pianore, Santa Lucia

For the broader travel overview: Camaiore.