MARTA GUESTHOUSE

A BIT OF HISTORY

S.MARIA DEL GIUDICE is a small village on the boundary between Lucca and Pisa Province, surrounded by Monti Pisani. It is in an ideal position to go to Lucca and Pisa, Montecatini Terme, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and the beautiful Tuscany beaches are all within easy reach. Florence, Siena, S. Gimignano, Voterra etc are about an hours drive from the Guest House.
The presence of historic man has been known in the area of S. Maria from the historic age.
During the middle ages around 1000AD there were many dwellings. In 1276 it was fortified with a several towers and walls to defend the area from the attacks of the armies of Pisa. The ancient remains of the fort can still be found: Characteristic walls, small narrow roads, arches, porticos, iron grates and narrow stairs remind of its past.
The church of S. Cristina and S. Giovanni called Pieve Vecchia is a 12 century building, The church with its tower constitutes one of the admired examples of the romanic-pisano-lucchese style. It has been built with white stones from the quarries of the same village. Above the central
entrance the white stone lintel from Roman times richly and finely carved. The internal three naves, between the capitals that are over the columns, which some are from Roman origin, we can find a baptismal fonte with octagonal base and a white Robbiana Madonna in special terracotta.
The Parish Church was built in the 12 century, an interesting stone carved lintel over the entrance and wonderful interior of the church with a simple and sombre structure with original columns and capitals. The church is dedicated to the Madonna and the important feast is held on the 15 August.
On the Faeta Mountain the beautiful green area of S.Pantaleone, with the monastery and church founded by Longobardians in 1044 can still be visited.
On S. Giuliano Mountain bordering with Pisa, you can find a lunar landscape, and see the bust of Dante Alighieri with the famous words from the Divina Commedia ."per cui i pisani veder Lucca non ponno" . The poet who obviously stopped there during his travels between "guelfe and ghibelline" cities.