Sillano Giuncugnano
Sillano Giuncugnano is a small mountain municipality in the province of Lucca, formed in 2014 by merging the former towns of Silla...
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Sillano Giuncugnano now
The story
The story of Sillano Giuncugnano
Introduction and Location
Sillano Giuncugnano lies in the northernmost part of the province of Lucca, in Tuscany, at the heart of upper Garfagnana, close to the border with Emilia-Romagna. The municipal territory, created from the administrative union of the former towns of Sillano and Giuncugnano, spreads along the Apennine ridges that separate the Serchio valley from the Emilian side. It is an inland mountain area, with small settlements scattered among ridges and valleys, reached via roads that climb through Garfagnana toward the Apennine passes.
History and Origins
The present-day municipality is a recent creation, established in 2014 through the merger of the two historic towns of Sillano and Giuncugnano, which for centuries had kept separate administrative identities despite sharing the same mountain setting. Like much of Garfagnana, these lands were long under the control of the Este family of Ferrara and Modena before passing, in later periods, under other jurisdictions. The local economy was historically based on mountain farming, livestock and seasonal transhumance, practices that shaped the scattered settlements and small stone hamlets still visible today.
Nature and Landscape
The landscape of Sillano Giuncugnano is dominated by the peaks and ridges of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, with chestnut and beech woods covering the slopes up to high elevations. The streams that rise here flow toward the Serchio river basin, carving narrow valleys between the hills. Altitude and isolation have helped preserve a still lightly built-up natural environment, with cold, snowy winters and cool summers, ideal for hiking, nature watching and walks along the trails linking the various hamlets and the mountain passes.
Things to Do and See
Visitors to Sillano Giuncugnano can mainly enjoy slow-paced tourism, with walks through small stone hamlets, visits to the parish churches scattered across the territory, and hikes along Apennine trails climbing toward the border ridges. Routes suit different fitness levels, from short walks between the settlements to more demanding climbs toward the higher elevations. The area's limited urbanization makes it especially suited to those seeking peace, mountain air and direct contact with the rhythms of rural Garfagnana life.
Flavors and Traditions
Local cuisine reflects the peasant tradition of Garfagnana, with the chestnut as its defining ingredient: neccio flour, made by grinding dried chestnuts, forms the base of typical dishes and traditional sweets. Alongside it are products such as Garfagnana spelt, porcini mushrooms gathered in the woods each autumn, and mountain cheeses. Village festivals tied to chestnuts and forest produce mark the seasonal calendar, keeping alive recipes and artisan know-how passed down through generations within the local families.
Not to be missed
- A walk through the stone hamlets of Sillano and Giuncugnano
- A hike along Apennine trails toward the border ridges
- Visiting the parish churches across the municipal territory
- Tasting neccio flour and traditional chestnut-based sweets
- Sunset views over the peaks of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines
To see
What to see in Sillano Giuncugnano
Routes · Trovido Route
