Villa Campanile: Oratory, History and Trails of the Cerbaie

Villa Campanile offers travelers two clear points of reference when choosing a destination: the history of the oratory and the trails of the Cerbaie. There is also a stone memorial to the fallen and the Festa del contadino, which was held in several past years. This lets you understand the town through its religious history, local remembrance and specific routes. When looking for a hotel, it may help to decide whether cultural history or the trails will be the focus of your trip.

Oratory and local history

The name Villa Campanile, formerly Villa di Campanile, comes from the residence of a Franciosini di Castelfranco who owned land there in the 18th century.

The oratory was dedicated to Saint Peter of Alcantara. On December 8, 1900, the small oratory was opened to the public for worship and served as a subsidiary church of the parish church of Orentano.

A statue of Saint Peter of Alcantara was blessed and consecrated on November 13, 1920, by the Bishop of Pescia, Monsignor Angelo Simonetti. During the church’s restoration in 1963, stone from Filettole was used for the facade; an artistic mosaic depicting the Good Shepherd was also completed.

In chronological order, these are distinct milestones: the opening of the oratory in 1900, the consecration of the statue in 1920 and the restoration of the church in 1963.

Trails through the Cerbaie

The Via Francigena runs through the dense forests of the Cerbaie near Villa Campanile, then continues along the historic paved path to Galleno. Section 200 of the Colline delle Cerbaie trails runs from Orentano to Villa Campanile. From Villa Campanile, the route follows the Via Francigena to Altopascio.

The places mentioned provide different points of reference: Orentano is the starting point of Section 200, Galleno is the destination of the historic paved path, and Altopascio is the endpoint of the Via Francigena route from Villa Campanile. This helps you distinguish the routes by their specific stages.

The route continuing from Villa Campanile passes the Lago di Sibolla Regional Nature Reserve, a wetland of international importance. If you would like to consider nature alongside local and church history, the reserve is a specific point of interest along the route.

Memorial and Festa del contadino

The Monumento ai Caduti in Villa Campanile is a stone plaque memorial to those who fell between 1918 and 1950. It adds a distinct memorial to the town’s religious history, with a specific time period as its context.

The Festa del contadino in Villa Campanile was held in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2024. If the event is important to your travel plans, check the specific dates in advance.

For an overview of the wider area: Castelfranco Di Sotto.