Via degli Artisti

In the quaint village of Sant’Ermo, in Casciana Terme Lari, a street that was a central part of daily life in the village for decades has now become a space dedicated to art. We are talking about Via delle Palanche—now Via De Amicis—which has been transformed into a sort of open-air art gallery.

Until the early 20ᵗʰ century, life in Sant’Ermo revolved almost entirely around a single dirt road that connected the 2 access roads to the village (Via di Campolungo and Via Sant’Ermete). On warm summer evenings, Sundays and on special holidays, the locals would gather here to compete in a game of “pallina” (a sort of iron bocce). People would play for a few coins, or “palanche,” from which the street’s name derives.

Throughout the 20ᵗʰ century, the expansion of the village and the arrival of automobiles made the road increasingly unsuitable for vehicle traffic. Over time, it was neglected until the village association “28 Agosto” took action and brought the situation to the attention of the municipal government. 
The revitalization plan got underway in 2024 with the paving of the road. But playing a major role in giving the street a new identity was Giampaolo Conti, a well-known painter from Livorno who made San Termino his home and who chose to pay tribute to the town by donating 2 large painted panels depicting Via delle Palanche as it was in the early 20ᵗʰ century.

In June 2026, thanks to the participation of numerous local artists, the street was embellished with no fewer than 16 painted panels, officially becoming: “Via degli Artisti: the most beautiful street in the village.” Taking a stroll down this alley today is like taking a journey through time and into the very soul of Sant’Ermo. The colors of the paintings interact with the stones of the village, telling stories of yesterday and today.