Aquilea: Soup, Hills and History

Aquilea lies in the Morian Hills. Different interests may shape your stay: the local soup tradition, the hilly landscape and historic traces in Castellaccio. These themes provide a practical guide when you’re looking for a hotel in Aquilea and want to decide in advance what you’d like your trip to focus on.

Food: Zuppa di Aquilea

Zuppa di Aquilea is made exclusively with local agricultural ingredients. These include the red Lucca bean, Lucca’s black curly kale—also known as “braschetta” lucchese—and wild herbs. The variety of herbs depends on the season and can include up to 40 different types and varieties. This figure is a possible upper limit, not a fixed blend used in every soup. If you’re interested in regional cuisine, the dish offers a direct introduction to the named ingredients and their seasonal variety.

The Sagra della Zuppa di Aquilea adds a communal feast based on traditional regional recipes to this culinary experience. During the Sagra, food stalls serve Lucchese soup and other specialties. The festival dates are seasonal and may change. So if you’d like to plan your stay around a visit to the Sagra, check the latest dates in advance.

Hilly Landscape and Route

A route along the Gothic Line begins at the ruins of Castellaccio di Aquilea. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of the plain of Lucca and the Serchio Valley. This part of the route combines a historic starting point with expansive views—a different focus from exploring the ingredients in the soup. If you’d like to make scenery and cycling the main focus of your stay, this viewpoint offers a concrete point of interest.

Historic Traces in Castellaccio

The remains of the old Church of San Leonardo stand in Castellaccio near Aquilea. The surviving building probably dates to the 12th century. The church thus provides a link to the area’s earlier history.

A historical and cultural walk also explored the history of Castellaccio. The village committee organized it on September 22, 2018, to mark the 74th anniversary of the Battle of Castellaccio di Aquilea. The walk aimed to share the history of Castellaccio from 1100 to that time, including the events of September 24, 1944. In this way, the event connected the area’s longer history with the events of 1944.

Planning Your Stay

A municipal report dated June 13, 2020, mentions an equipped community park covering 20,000 m² alongside the church in Aquilea. If the facilities are important to your stay, check their current status before visiting, as they may have changed since then.

The main differences lie in what you base your plans on: the Sagra has seasonal dates that may change; the route focuses on the landscape; and the church and 2018 walk offer connections to local history. Consider whether a culinary event, a cycling route or the history of Castellaccio is most important to you, and plan the rest of your trip accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Nozzano Castello, Ciciana, Balbano, Montuolo, San Pietro A Vico, Mastiano, Pieve Di Brancoli, Cerasomma

Back to the main travel overview: Lucca.