Located along the road that from Lucca leads to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, just over 50 km from the Villa, Gallicano is an attractive town that still preserves traits of a medieval village including the city walls, of which you can still see the remains. Its origins are still shrouded in mystery though the first mention of the town is in a document dating back to 770. On the basis of various findings, it is said to be among the oldest towns in the Serchio Valley. Gallicano is divided in two parts that correspond to the two eras in which it was constructed: the older part, dating back to Medieval times, was erected within the central part while the second part covers the whole of the town and dates back to the Renaissance period. The monument that symbolizes Gallicano is the Castle, which was probably built with the first feudal settlement, although there may have been a previous Roman fortification, given the presence of the Via Clodia Nova. As you walk along the streets you can see several religious buildings, the most notable being: the Pieve di S.Jacopo, located at the highest part of the village, where you can find a remarkable terracotta sculpture encased in glass depicting a Madonna with Child and the Saints hailing from the Della Robbia workshop;

the Church of San Giovanni Battista, an interesting testimony to Renaissance art, where you can see a wooden crucifix dating back to 1300-1400 and a 17th Century painting of the Baptism of Christ by Lucca artist Pietro Paolini; the Church of Santa Maria, restored in 1763; the Church of Sant’Andrea, built around the 12th Century, and the Church of Santa Lucia, whose date of construction remains unknown, along the ancient road of the Via Clodia Nova. Among the events that each year enliven the atmosphere of the town and attract numerous tourists are: the traditional Palio di San Jacopo, held on the 25th July in honour of the patron saint, where the ancient Rioni (neighbourhoods) challenge one another with floats made from papier-mâché, sports competitions and folkloristic processions; and the Christmas torchlight procession, (one of the most important appointments of the Garfagnana area for runners!).