Cutigliano: Trails, History and Doganaccia

A stay in Cutigliano can focus on local history, hiking or winter sports. Points of interest include the churches and Palazzo dei Capitani della Montagna, the Itinerario degli Albinelli and the Doganaccia ski area. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cutigliano, considering these differences can help you plan your trip around what you’d like to experience locally.

Local History and Churches

Palazzo dei Capitani della Montagna was built in 1377 as the seat of the Capitano della Montagna, an official sent by Florence to administer the Montagna Pistoiese. Around 95 coats of arms in stone and polychrome terracotta can be seen on the palace; they date from 1444 to 1742. The 15th-century loggia stands opposite the palace. It was used to notarize legal documents and for the Capitano to administer justice.

The Chiesa di San Bartolomeo was under the jurisdiction of the Pieve of Lizzano and is recorded in the pastoral visitation records from 1373; it was elevated to a Pieve in 1419. It lies just outside the built-up area of Cutigliano. The Chiesa della Madonna di Piazza, by contrast, is just a few steps from the town hall square, making the two churches distinct landmarks in the townscape.

Hiking and Landscape

The Itinerario degli Albinelli runs from Cutigliano about 2 kilometers toward Melo. In the Le Cavi area, after another approximately 400 meters along a paved road, continue on foot along an unpaved path to Rivoreta. Along the way, the route passes through centuries-old chestnut forests and by the old mills on the Rio dell’Arsiccio.

The route to Lago Scaffaiolo offers a different landscape: it leads to a natural lake at an altitude of 1,775 meters in the northern Apennines, one of the range’s particularly impressive small lakes. The two trails offer different hiking experiences: the Itinerario is defined by the sections toward Rivoreta and the transition from paved to unpaved surfaces, while the route to Scaffaiolo centers on its high-altitude lake destination.

Winter Sports in Doganaccia

The Doganaccia ski area in the Cutigliano area has about 15 kilometers of slopes, which are especially suitable for beginners. Three slopes are lit for night skiing. The ski area offers equipment rental, ski lessons, excursions and snowshoe hikes. The cable car connects the village of Cutigliano with the Doganaccia ski area. It is 2,988 meters long and covers a vertical drop of 785 meters.

Chestnut Culture in October

The Rassegna della Castanicoltura, established in 2002, takes place on the last weekend of October. It includes guided tours of working chestnut-drying huts in the municipal area, as well as tastings of chestnuts and products made with sweet chestnut flour. If you’d like to plan your stay around the event, check the exact dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Piano Degli Ontani, Pian Di Novello, Abetone, Massa E Cozzile, Pescia, Limestre, Marliana, Buggiano.

For the broader travel overview: Pistoia.