CAMAIORE: BETWEEN THE ABBEY AND THE VIA FRANCIGENA

Camaiore sits in a natural amphitheater surrounded by gentle rolling hills. The area has yielded archaeological remains of Homo sapiens, evidence of Roman farm estates, and medieval defensive castles. With the splendid 10th-century Abbey, we discover the Via Francigena, an important stop for pilgrims and for Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury around the year 990. The historic center is a true gem of Versilia, with its palaces, Romanesque churches, and beautifully crafted corners. The town is immersed in an ancient atmosphere yet retains a modern charm.

The beautiful Abbey of St. Peter is already mentioned in the 10th century, when the Bishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, travelled on pilgrimage to Rome. The church still preserves its Romanesque style in squared stone and houses an interesting Baroque altar built around a 14th-century painting. Not far from the church is the Museum of Sacred Art, located in an 18th-century building; in front of its entrance you can admire an original stretch of the Via Francigena. The museum exhibits furnishings, paintings, vestments, and sacred objects dating from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Not to be missed: a 1516 tapestry and works by Matteo Civitali, Agostino Marti, and many others.

The town center is dominated by the Romanesque collegiate church dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption, built in the 13th century and leaning against a 14th-century bell tower. Inside, Romanesque pillars frame artworks from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Of particular interest are two 1387 baptismal fonts, an altarpiece by Marracci, and frescoes by Tofanelli. Near the church we admire the old Porta San Pietro with a 15th-century fresco and a 16th-century triumphal arch. Not to be missed: the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and the remains of the medieval walls in the nearby square.