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The Hamlet of Ponticello

Ponticello

A maze of galleries, arches and fortified houses where silence reigns and time seems to have stopped in the Middle Ages

The small village of Ponticello in the municipality of Filattiera developed at the turn of the 14th-15th centuries along the stretch of the Via Francigena that crosses Lunigiana.
The inhabited centre is one of the best preserved medieval centres in the area. It's accessed by reaching the back of the 17th-century oratory dedicated to Saints Rocco and Bernardo, recognizable by its copper dome that was added in the 19th century following a restoration.

Ponticello is very small in size but represents a true gem in medieval architecture. The village is entirely in stone, and features many squares, courtyards and alleys. Attention is drawn to the high number of covered passageways that feature pointed, round and barrel arches that connect the streets and houses, many of which can be reached by stone stairways.
One of the main features of the village of Ponticello are the tower-houses. Locally called caminà, this type of housing was formed as fortified buildings. The entrance was on the first floor and was accessed using a retractable staircase. The rooms were developed on the upper floors, while the ground floor (equipped with loopholes) was used as a warehouse.

The name of Ponticello likely derives from a bridge built over the Oriolo river (perhaps originally called Riolo meaning small stream). Unfortunately, neither exist anymore.
Among the most recent historical traces, however, are those of the village's involvement in the events of World War II. In the surroundings, there were military garrisons and it's known that the inhabited centre was bombed, although fortunately suffered little damage in an attack that involved a local evacuation to safer sites.
Having been abandoned for a long time, Ponticello has undergone a rebirth and every year the event titled I Mestieri nel Borgo is celebrated. The event has a historical-artisan focus that reveals and preserves the knowledge of centuries-old crafts.

Lunigiana