Like twin galactic stars the villages of Longoio and Mobbiano shall ever be associated with one another. There does not appear to be any significant rivalry between the two as often exists between neighbouring villages in our valley (like that between Crasciana and Casabasciana) . Longoio is slightly larger and, until relatively recently, was the only one shown on the road sign to the two villages.

Unlike some of the other settlements in these parts there’s little information in medieval documents  on Longoio and Mobbiano . Longoio is never talked about, unlike Mobbiano which is mentioned for the first time in a parchment dated 983, in which it is recounted that Viscount Fraolmo II, son of Fraolmo I, obtained from the Bishop of Lucca, Teudigrimo, a part of the tithes paid from some lands leased in “Mubiano”.

We do not know exactly when the two villages were founded. According to some historians Mobbiano (perhaps older than Longoio) developed from a Roman farm, founded by a certain Mevius, probably one of the many lands assigned to retired legionaries as a reward for services rendered to the Roman empire.

Mobbiano consists of two main narrow streets running parallel to each other and separated by a steep slope.

Although it has its fair share of inhabited houses Mobbiano  also regrettably has several semi-ruinous buildings which are often hidden under layers of dense foliage.

Here are some further pictures we took the other day while walking about the village which is really more of a hamlet.  The connecting passages between the two streets are really steep! 

Mobbiano has no outstanding monuments but it has its picturesque features including this graceful fountain.

The village has its own car park which was built around last ten years ago.

Longoio and Mobbiano meet up at the charming ‘chiesina della margine’ where a Mass is celebrated every May.

The population of the two villages is stated to be seventy inhabitants but this is perhaps an overestimate – there are more cats in then! This year, in particular, with the pandemic there have been far fewer summer holiday makers which can double the population.

Perhaps the best claim to fame of Mobbiano and Longoio is that they are reckoned to receive a greater amount of sunlight than any other villages in our region of the Controneria. That is clearly a very good reason to continue to live here!