Hello dear friends!
I know I've been absent from the community for a while, but work has been really overwhelming lately. On top of that, I had a bit of a mishap because I lost some photos I took this summer—just my luck, always making a mess. Fortunately, I had already saved some on my PC, so today I’m sharing another place that my friend Massimo, who lives nearby, introduced me to. It's another hidden gem in Garfagnana, this beautiful part of Tuscany, and today I’ll show you Trassilico in the province of Lucca.
Actually, I had already been here in passing, if you remember, but having a local guide is a whole other thing, in addition to the fact that luckily this time there is sun.
This is the perfect destination for those looking for a place where time seems to have stood still, and it’s also a beautiful spot in terms of nature. It’s located about 700 meters above sea level, making it an ideal place for walks and to enjoy the tranquility of nature.
In several places I've visited here, I found numerous monuments, like the one I found in this village, dedicated to those who lost their lives during World War II. Unfortunately, there were fierce battles in this part of Tuscany, especially when many locals decided to resist the enemy, often at the cost of their lives.
As I continued my walk, I came across a beautiful little church dedicated to Saint Roch, where I was able to go inside and see what it was like. I must say it was very charming and welcoming.
I continued my walk, wandering through the village streets, and reached the top where I noticed the remains of an ancient fortress, an old castle. But what struck me most about this place was the beautiful view of the valley from up there. After all, these large defensive structures were often built in such strategic lookout points.
I kept walking down to the village, but I couldn't figure out how many people actually live here. I saw many "For Sale" signs and lots of houses that were closed, probably only used during the holidays—likely summer holidays, as I imagine it gets quite cold here in winter.
As I continued, I noticed that the streets are really narrow, and just like in other villages I’ve shown you photos of, people used every bit of space when building houses. In this case, too, the streets run under the houses.
Unfortunately, I also noticed that many houses are in really poor condition, and even if someone bought them, they would need extensive renovations. However, if you're interested, there are plenty for sale here, and this could definitely be an ideal place for remote work.
I even had a chance to chat with someone who doesn't live here permanently but comes for vacations. They told me that, unfortunately, this place is also slowly becoming depopulated as the elderly pass away, and those who inherit the houses are often not interested in keeping them, leaving them completely abandoned.
In conclusion, I have to say that this place was very interesting as well. It's another spot off the tourist track, but one I recommend seeing in person to truly experience the culture and traditions of these places.
See you in my next post, I hope you enjoyed the photos, and I wish you all a great day!
