Every village in the Val di Lima has its own special characteristic. It would be quite wrong to single any one out as the prettiest in the valley. However, for me Casoli (not to be confused with the Casoli above Camaiore) has some very special features including the remains of a castle, a prehistoric observatory, stupendous views and beautiful surroundings.
(Looking towards Limano from Casoli)
When I first arrived here twelve (!) year ago Casoli, together with Lucchio and Gombereto held a medieval festa. Indeed, they cooperated in the publicity of each other’s events issuing one leaflet with all three names on it. Through the years Casoli’s and Lucchio’s festa dropped out and this year sadly, Gombereto decided to hold no medieval festa. I wonder why?
Last week I decided to look around Casoli’s environs. The area is rich with chestnut trees and the sound of the constantly dropping fruit is ever present.
I headed for the chapel known as the Chiesina della Madonnina di Colle a Piano which dates from the sixteenth century and is around twenty minutes’ walk from the centre of Casoli.
Last time I was here the chiesina looked very derelict with a collapsing roof. This time happily the roof had been completely rebuilt in the old style and the walls had been consolidated and plastered. A local I met there, however, told me that the work, begun a few years back, had not been completed. In particular, the portico walls needed to be covered with stone slabs and the two seats on either side of the entrance had been stolen some time ago and only their supports remained. Note the heraldic carvings in the chapel arch, pointed out by local expert Virgilio Contrucci as belonging to a noble family in Casoli.
The chapel was locked but I was able to take this shot which shows the remaining fresco fragment of a Madonna and child. Unfortunately, since the chapel is deconsecrated and not used for any local religious rites (formerly there used to be annual processions to it) it now seems to be used for storing building material and a ladder had been placed right against the fresco. Surely it could have been put to one side!
From the chapel various enticing paths lead to other villages in this, the north facing part of the Val di Lima. Unlike the south-facing side, where we live, which is called the ‘Controneria’ and has all its villages connected by a metalled road, the north-facing part has fewer, larger, villages and to go from one village to the other one must descend to the valley floor and drive up again to the next. That’s when the footpaths come in useful. From Casoli to Casabasciana, for instance, there is a beautiful path through gorgeous forests.
Casoli’s lake, grandly called ‘Lago’, is really a large pond or ‘laghetto’. It fills a depression rather like a Welsh cwm and is clearly glacial in origin. It’s the only significant lake in our valley. To see other lakes one has to go over the Apennines at Fonte di Giovo where the Lago Santo is situated. Casoli Lake must surely have been much larger once. Approaching the ‘laghetto’ across flower-bestrewn meadows one reaches an area of characteristic wetland plants. I especially like the bulrushes. There was no sighting of water fowl, however. Perhaps I should return rather earlier in the year to spot them.
While there a posse of mountain bikers passed me. They were coming down to the village after having done a ridge route over the Pizzorne hills. So Casoli’s surroundings must be very appealing for them too.
With many of the northern Italian cities choked with smog because of the continuing high pressure zone and lack of wind, autumn is a great time for walking in such rural areas as this. If you’re here take advantage of it!
