Discover Gabbiana: Church, History and Routes

Gabbiana is one of the historic settlement centers spread across the slopes and hillside areas of the municipality of Bagnone. The village includes several hamlets: Cassolana, Grecciola, Baratti, Deglio, and Favale lie scattered across the southern slope of Monte Barca. These names give the landscape a clear sense of place. The SP 21 also passes through Gabbiana.

Church and History

Gabbiana’s origins probably date back to around the year 1000. The first recorded mention of the chapel of Gabbiana is dated December 14, 1187. That same year, Pope Gregory VIII transferred the chapel to the chapter of the Cathedral of Luni. The probable origins and the precisely dated mention are two distinct historical reference points for the village. Another early trace leads to Cassolana: the hamlet is mentioned in 1275 in a deed dividing the Malaspina fiefs of dello Spino Fiorito.

The parish church of Gabbiana is dedicated to Sant’Andrea Apostolo. Together with the rectory, it is among the eight protected historical properties in the municipality of Bagnone. The new parish church was built in the neo-Romanesque style; horizontal bands of sandstone blocks are a defining feature. Sant’Andrea Apostolo also preserves items from the old church: stones, a holy-water stoup, a baptismal font, a pulpit, and a statue of Saint Andrew. The church thus brings together neo-Romanesque design and several older furnishings.

Cycling and Riding Routes

For cyclists, Percorso 22 “Arancione” follows a paved road uphill toward Gabbiana and on to Grecciola. Percorso 22 also includes an uphill stretch on an unpaved road through the woods. There, the trail markings coincide with those of Percorso 24. Both paved road and unpaved woodland trail are therefore part of the route described; conditions may change. Check the current conditions before planning your ride.

A one-day horseback riding route passes through the Valle del Deglio and the area of Bagnone. It runs uphill from Cassolana toward Gabbiana, first through chestnut woods and then through beech woods. The route offers a different perspective on the landscape from Percorso 22: here, the focus is on traveling on horseback and the change in forest types, while that route is a cycling trail with paved and unpaved sections. The route description does not guarantee that it is currently accessible. Before planning a ride, check whether the trail can be used and confirm the arrangements.

Gabbiana as a Search Destination

Are you particularly interested in the history of the chapel, Sant’Andrea Apostolo, or the scattered hamlets? Or would you like to plan around a cycling or riding route? The historical accounts highlight different points, from the village’s probable beginnings around the year 1000 to the mention of Cassolana in 1275. The routes, in turn, differ in mode of travel, surface, and the landscapes they pass through. Use these differences to first decide what you want to shape your stay in Gabbiana; then you can search specifically for hotels for your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Bagnone.