Cerageto: Gardens, Church and a Hillside Village

Cerageto is a hillside village whose character is shaped by its gardens, the village church of San Martino, and its position along a road route to Passo delle Radici. When deciding whether the village suits your trip, both its village setting and its location on a named route are relevant.

Gardens as Part of the Village’s Character

Numerous gardens can be found throughout the village and in its immediate surroundings. Gardening is widespread in Cerageto; the gardens are often next to houses and are mainly used to grow vegetables for personal consumption. These well-maintained plots blend into the village landscape and are considered a characteristic feature of the place. Since 2011, Cerageto has been recognized as the “Paese degli Orti” by the municipal administration together with local associations. The name captures the connection between gardening and the local character.

Garden Festivals and Tastings

The gardens are also at the heart of local festivities: in recent years, Cerageto has celebrated them with a village festival called Festa degli Orti. The garden competition had already been running for 15 years in 2019; associated with it is A spasso per il Borgo, a tasting walk in Cerageto. Festa degli Orti puts the gardens at the center of the celebrations, while A spasso per il Borgo combines tastings with the traditional competition.

Church, Remembrance and Feast Days

The imposing Church of San Martino Vescovo is surrounded by Cerageto’s houses; the parish is also dedicated to San Martino. On the church’s left exterior wall is the Lapide alla memoria dei Caduti per la Patria a Cerageto. This is distinct from the Monumento ai Caduti di Cerageto: it stands at the foot of the mountain above the village, on the north side of Piazza degli Autieri.

The monument includes a marble memorial stone on a marble pedestal, topped by a bronze eagle. On the back of the monument, two plaques bearing the names of the fallen are mounted on the wall. As for the village’s early history, some researchers believe that Cerageto existed before the 12th century and gave its name to a community. In local festival tradition, San Martino is associated with November 11; San Lorenzo on August 10 is considered Cerageto’s main festival. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the current dates in advance.

Cerageto Along the Road Route

Cerageto lies on provincial road 72, which climbs to Passo delle Radici. On the road route from Castiglione di Garfagnana to San Pellegrino in Alpe, you pass through the village before reaching the pass. This makes it possible to plan Cerageto as a stop along the way, rather than consider it only as a destination for its gardens and memorial sites. Seasonal offerings along the route may vary.

Find a Hotel for Your Stay

When choosing your destination, you can weigh up different priorities: are gardens, the church, and memorial sites the focus of your stay, or is Cerageto mainly a stop on your drive to Passo delle Radici? This question can help you first determine which place best fits your travel plans. You can then choose a hotel based on the personal requirements that matter for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Pescaglia, Vallico di Sotto, Campolemisi, Marlia, Stazzema, Castelnuovo Di Garfagnana, Renaio, Corsanico

For the broader travel overview: Lucca.