A Peaceful Journey Through Ripafratta: Discovering Tuscany’s Hidden History

Hello dearest friends,

I was so pleased to see that you enjoyed my post about my trip to Prague. But there's another surprise coming soon about another beautiful trip I took. However, do you think I could have gone through this vacation period without visiting Tuscany?

Indeed, I went back there to visit a dear friend of mine who lives near Pisa. Since I had marked this place on my map—a spot I had only briefly seen once—I decided this time to take my usual walk and explore this beautiful village: Ripafratta, a hamlet of San Giuliano Terme in the province of Pisa.

I had passed through here several times because the Strada Regionale 12 dell’Abetone runs through it—a road that connects Emilia Romagna to Tuscany—highlighting the strategic importance of this village. Not only was it vital for land traffic passing through, but it is also crossed by the Serchio River, which I believe is one of the longest rivers in Tuscany.

As soon as you arrive here, you can't miss the beautiful Rocca di Ripafratta, which dates back to the Middle Ages. It was later expanded and architecturally enhanced by the famous Florentine architect Giuliano da Sangallo. The fortress was the site of conflicts, especially between Pisa and Lucca, as its strategic location made it highly contested. It's a pity, though, because it seems poorly maintained and somewhat neglected—a fate that, unfortunately, many places in Italy suffer.

When I got there, I spoke with some locals who explained that the fortress is now almost a ruin and can only be visited through guided tours organized by the local Pro Loco association. In recent years, some citizens have created an association dedicated to saving this important defensive complex, which is vital to Tuscany's history.

I began my visit along the main streets, and something that immediately struck me was the church in this beautiful village. Its bell tower almost resembles a civic tower. If you’ve been paying attention to other places I’ve shared here, you might have noticed that bell towers often served not only religious purposes but also military and defensive functions.

I must say, I didn’t find the village at its best. Some houses are being renovated, while others are in poor condition, though I wouldn’t call the village entirely degraded.

Unfortunately, some roofs have collapsed, and parts of the plaster on the walls are peeling off. Nevertheless, it was truly fascinating to explore these places, which are still beautiful. In fact, during my walk, a local gentleman pointed me towards the “Fosso dei Mulini,” a canal built by Lorenzo de’ Medici. However, I ended up getting a bit lost and didn’t find it.

As for tourist information, I can tell you that the village is easily reachable by car via the Strada Regionale 12. More importantly, it has a train station on the Pisa–Lucca line, which is undoubtedly one of the most convenient features. I must say, Ripafratta is a peaceful place that preserves its historical past and offers visitors a fascinating blend of nature and culture.

I hope the photos I took were interesting. I also hope that you will have the chance to visit these places I share here with the community. See you in the next post, and I wish you all a wonderful day!

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