Join the unveiling of an historic site that has been saved on the Montecatino plateau, above the Freddana Valley, where the remains of the church of Santa Maria Annunziata, the religious and civic heart of the ancient medieval settlement has been restored.
The Montecatino tower will be inaugurated on Sunday afternoon, April 19th, at 4:00 PM. After significant restoration work, Montecatino will have its tower back.
The Montecatino Association invites the public to the first of a long series of initiatives that will revitalize this historic site.
🗓️ Program:
• Welcome remarks - Mayor Mario Pardini and city officials
• Project introduction - Architect Gianluca Fenili
• Acknowledgements - Cristina Avanzinelli (Montecatino Association)
• Historical reenactment - Associazione Contrade di San Paolino aps
• Musical entertainment - Compagnia instabile dei 104
• A toast is offered to all in attendance
We look forward to seeing you for this important milestone!The first records of the site date back to the 11th century, and documents from 1082 mention the castle of Montecatino, around which a small community developed with homes, a church, and a bell tower. Over the centuries, the complex was expanded and modified, but with the progressive abandonment of the site, the church fell into disrepair. The last religious service was held in 1966, and since then the site has been exposed to the degradation of time. Today, the bell tower is the subject of a restoration and enhancement project: the next step is to restore the church as wel
The restoration of the Montecatino ruins began in the early 2000s thanks to the ongoing commitment of the association, which is committed to the site's enhancement. This work of awareness, study, and care has over time created the conditions for a structured and shared intervention.
In 2020, the tower was the subject of a survey conducted by the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence, under the guidance of Professors Giovanni Minutoli and Riccardo Rudiero. This experience led to the dissertation by Lucca-born architect Gianluca Fenili, entitled "The Settlement of Montecatino. Knowledge as Conservation and Valorization of the Defensive System of the Republic of Lucca."