Montecarlo Tuscany

There are many beautiful and worth seeing places and cities in the province of Lucca, but one seems to me especially worth mentioning: Montecarlo Lucca Italy in the province of Lucca.

Rocca Cerruglio and the fortress

Essentially a large triangular tower and two side towers and a strong fortress wall.

After a long period of restoration, the Cerruglio fortress is open to the public.

Today, the neat medieval town, with its fortress and walls, nestles against the Colline Lucchese chain, about halfway between Lucca and Pistoia. Easy to reach by car on uphill serpentine roads.

And as to be expected, one is rewarded with a wonderful panorama view when one arrives at the top. The view is almost 360°. From the Pescia Valley via Montecatini and the Pisan Mountains to Lucca.

A central road leads into town through one of the former 5 gates and at the other end through another one. Best preserved are the Porta Fiorentina, the Porta Porticciola towards Lucca and the Southern Porta Nuova.

Montecarlo Lucca Italy – a lively city

Fortunately, many visitors use the parking lots outside of the gates, so car traffic is bearable. In summer, the tables of the pizzerias and inns are right on the street.

As it becomes refreshingly cool at evenings the inhabitants simply put out their own chairs out on the streets as well. There is colourful life all over the streets and the piazza with its splendid panoramic view. There is a colourful hustle and bustle in the streets and on the little piazza from which one has a wonderful view down on the plain. An experience by day but also by night when the whole plain shines in its lights.

Of course, the picturesque village offers cafés and trattorias, but also remarkable restaurants. One of them called “Forassiepe“ is located a few metres outside the Porta Fiorentina. It offers not only a fantastic panoramic view, but first class cuisine with a focus on Tuscan dishes. From our experience already worth the trip…

Wine & Theatre

Montecarlo  is also famous for the Teatro dei Rassicurati, a lay theatre with medieval scenes to which the inhabitants devote themselves.

The gentle slopes, facing South, are the area where Vino Montecarlo DOC, an internationally renowned wine, is produced. Wines are selected red and white wines produced by winegrowers who successfully combine ancient traditions with modern wine-growing techniques. Therefore, the Tenuta del Buonamico is only one of many at the foot of the village of Montecarlo.

The numerous wine festivals are more than worth mentioning. Also the beautiful country with its holiday cottages and holiday villas in Montecarlo Tuscany.
Also worth a visit is the ancient church of Pieve di San Piero, located at the foot of the hill on the road to Pistoia: it is listed as one of the oldest churches in the province and region of Tuscany and is said to date from the early days of Christianity.

MonteCarlo – Charles Mountain

You don’t have to be an expert to understand it: the location is so strategic that the place has a great historical importance.

Founded in the 14th century by the later Emperor Charles IV (hence the name Monte Carlo), the fortress on the high ridge of Monte Cerruglio played an important role in the fights between Lucca, Pisa and Florence.

Later supplemented and strengthened by the Lucchese Castruccio Castracani. Last expanded when the region finally fell under the rule of the Medici.

Story from history: “in 1328 some 800 lansquenets, rebelling against the emperor of the time, took cover in the town. They were protected by Prince Charles of Bohemia, the later emperor Charles VI. They began to fortify the place using the backside of the hill as a natural protection and erecting a fortifying wall with two towers.
In honor of their protector they named the fortress “Mons Caroli” (MonteCarlo), simply meaning Charles’ Mountain.”