Capezzano
A dive into the history of Capezzano Monte
Capezzano Monte is a very characteristic hamlet of the municipality of Pietrasanta, located in Versilia, in the province of Lucca and belonging to the archdiocese of Pisa. With its 354 inhabitants, Capezzano Monte is located on the hill overlooking the town center. If we stand in the Cathedral square of Pietrasanta and look up, above the fortress we will see the hamlet perched on the hill behind the hill called Castiglione. Here we will learn about the history of the ancient town of Capezzano Monte and its evolution over time.
Capezzano Monte through time
Capezzano Monte has a millenary history. Its origins date back to the first century BC when a Roman named "Capitius", perhaps a former soldier, settled or built a house in that place, which was later called "Selve Capetiana". In 808 AD, a document from the diocesan archive of Lucca mentions Capezzano di Pietrasanta as a place with a small massive house, a farmhouse, located in Capeziano and belonging to the Church of S. Martino. In 954 another document recalls Capeziano on the occasion of a exchange of goods between the Church of S. Martino and the Pieve of S. Giovanni and Felicita.
Capezzano Monte, like the whole of Versilia, has undergone several invasions and challenges over the centuries. In 700 AD, to escape threats and continuous thefts, a fortress was built on the pyramidal hill (the Castiglione hill) called Torre Capeziana. This castle, after a series of destructions and reconstructions lasting almost four centuries, during which the Lucchese on one side and the Visconti di Corvaia, allied with the Pisans, fought for the whole of Versilia, was definitively destroyed by the Lucchese around 1272-73. In 1930, most of the remaining stones of the castle, after being transported with a cable car, were used to build the municipal road of Capezzano Monte.
Geography of Capezzano Monte
Capezzano Monte has a position above the town center, about 3.5 km at an altitude of 345 meters above sea level. The village is divided into different areas that make up the hamlet such as: S. Caterina, Paduletto, Crociale, Rebuto, Chiano, Costamagra, Valiano, Case di Gallé, Nespolo, Canal d'oro.
The hamlet is surrounded by borders to the west with the hamlet of Capriglia, to the southeast with Valdicastello and to the east it is connected through an ancient mule track to the village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema. In the hamlet, three associations have always been active: the Capezzano Monte Philharmonic Society, the Versilia Choir and the Misericordia.
Culture in Capezzano Monte
The Philharmonic of Capezzano Monte and the Versilia Choir hold various concerts in the village. For example, the Christmas Concert is held inside the Parish church and the summer ones, one of which is performed inside the tuff quarry just above the village. This quarry has been renamed "Teatro La cava" for some years now and is an evocative place, from which you can admire a splendid panorama of the Versilia coast, from Viareggio to the Gulf of La Spezia.
Conclusions
Capezzano Monte is a small hamlet in Pietrasanta, but its history, its position and its cultural activities make it a fascinating place rich in history and traditions. Thanks to its active associations over the years, the village has maintained its traditions and its community spirit. Anyone who has the chance to visit this ancient village will be able to breathe the air of a community that has been able to evolve over time, keeping its history alive.
