ALTO RENO E TOSCANA

ALTO RENO TOSCANO

ALTO RENO BOLOGNESE E PISTOIESE, MA ANCHE PRATESE

From Spedaletto (Pistoia) to Gaggio Montano: The history, the curiosities, the traditions of this mountain area between Tuscany and Emilia

English version

fortress (castle) of Sambuca Pistoiese

ALTO RENO

The high Bolognese, Pratese and Pistoiese Apennine: an ancient land, rich of tradition and history, a fascinating place that offers reasons of interest and curiosity. A mountain oasis between Emilia and Tuscany.

SAMBUCA PISTOIESE

The village, with its castle, was an ancient episcopal feud as is shown in an Imperial certificate of Ottone III from 998. Today remain traces of the tower and walls of the fortress. The Sambuca's church is dedicated to Saint James the Elder (San Jacopo), patron saint of Pistoia. The municipal territory of Sambuca Pistoiese extends for 77,54 square kilometres

THE UPPER VALLEY OF EASTERN LIMENTRA (Sambuca Pistoiese, Camugnano, Cantagallo, Castel di Casio)

"The upper valley of the eastern Limentra runs from its source in the peaks of the Appennine mountains to the artificially formed Lake Suviana. That is from Granducal Tuscany to the border of the Papal State of Emilia - Romagna. Its earliest human explorers were probably travellers between the two provinces; they would most likely have used the route along the western crest of the valley side. Later, along this route, was established the important abbey at Fontana Taona. As the value of the resources of the valley became known to the great cities of the plains, however, small manufacturing villages, which were able to develop those resources, grew up along the bottom of the valley and, gradually, the track which joined them supplanted the earlier route along the crest. The resources of the valley may be catagorized as: stone, trees, water and people; and the city institutions which benefitted from them as the military and the church." (B. HOMES, "Le pietre dell'Alta Limentra Orientale", Pistoia, 1996)

THE VALLEY OF WESTERN LIMENTRA (Sambuca Pistoiese, Pistoia)

"The valley of the Western Limentra is in many ways a typical example of an Appennine mountaine valley. It is stille possible to see that, until relatively recently, there existed here, as in many other of these mountains valleys, an extensive network of forest tracks which joined together not only village coomunities but also the agricultural, social and cultural systems which gave them life. Where this valley differs from many of its neighbours, and what gives it, therefore, a substantial part of its distinctive character, is that for at least a thousand years that system has interacted with and been overlaid by an important national route. The national route brought into the hearth of the tight-knit valley community a constant flow of travellers from the outside world. It witnessed major transapennine journeys of pilgrimage in the medioeval period, journeys of commerce and expansion in the age of enlightenment, and journeys displaying unprecedented military might in more recent times. But it also witnessed, far more, frequently of course, the humble journeys of common people passing trough the valley." (B. HOMES, "Tre viaggi lungo la Limentra Occidentale", Porretta Terme, 2002)

THE PORRETTANA LINE

Alto Reno is easy to reach by car from Pistoia or Bologna by travelling on the State Road (SS) 64, but the most suggestive and ecological way is undoubtedly the train which connects Pistoia with Bologna by means of the famous stretch of railway called "La Porrettana". In fact, it meanders amid tunnels and stone bridges through a succession of valleys of incomparable beauty.

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THE 'MAYS'

The `Mays` (or Cantamaggi) are one of the oldest traditions of our mountains.The orgins of this manifestation appear common to other locations of the Tuscan- Emilian Appennines ,thats how they had festivals of spring.Of these festivals "Mays" there are many traces.Although they are reduced to games or cristian festivals.The two principal "Mays" of the zone are those of Sambuca and those of Treppio,but others in Alto Reno bolognese are Camugnano,Granaglione and Castel di Casio.During the "Mays" that they held on the nights between April 30 and May 1,a group of "Maggianti" harmonized some songs and asked owners of the houses to make an offering as usual.At Granaglione the "Mays" were able to be dramatic and made a true and actual representation cantata in verses as usual in eight rhyme.

THERMAL BATHS OF PORRETTA

Those who want to totally relax can visit the Thermal Baths of Porretta, already known during the Roman times and place of cure for celebrities like Lorenzo "il Magnifico" de'Medici or Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother. The characteristic buildings of the XVIII and XIX centuries help to create a relaxing atmosphere.

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Dialects of the Alto Reno

Thanks to the works of Francesco Guccini it is commonly known that the dialect spoken at Pavana [a fraction of the town of Sambuca Pistoiese in Tuscany] is a hybrid made of contamination between the Bolognese and Pistoiese.Even in the territory of the "Alto Reno Emiliano" you are able to distinguish a certain grade of Tuscan influence in the dialect.In certain zones of the comunity of Granaglione it is difficult to know if you are in Emilia or have passed into Tuscany.At Porretta Terme certain words are used in the tipical Tuscan vernaculer such as "neccio",'brocciolo", "frugiata' . Guccini in the introduction of his "Dizionario del Dialetto Pavanese" [published by the group ' Nueter ' in 1998] recognizes a significant influence of the spoken Tuscan in the dialect of Lizzano in Belvedere.Regarding the zones of Badi. Bargi and Stagno it reminds you of the works of Barbara Beneforti published in 'Nueter' ,XXIV 1998 the pages 357-388. In this site you must remember that the studies are extremely difficult to verify what measure of the dialects spoken in the zone[ Badi, Bargi and Stagno ] are more Emilian or Tuscan given that components used remind you of Tuscan is notable

Our language: between tuscan and emilian