In the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Casciana Terme Lari is an example of a scattered town, whose town hall is located in the hamlet of Lari, a small village rich in history and natural beauty to which the Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club has been attributed.
Lari
The village of Lari, with its narrow streets and the entrance doors to the village, retains all its old charm, dominated as it is by the size of the Castle of Vicari and surrounded by walls. In the historic center stand the Town Hall, and the climb that leads to the Castle of the Vicars, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view.
The fortress, originally founded by the Etruscans and strengthened by the Vicars then becoming Palazzo Pretorio, still retains the prisons and the Palace of the Vicars with its monumental facade, and houses the Dynamic Museum of the Vicariate, that tells the story of the building over the centuries. Inside, the Sala del Tribunale and the Pietro Leopoldo Hall of Tuscany, enriched by sixteenth-century frescoes, stand out for their beauty.
And there is also the presence of a ghost, that of Rosso della Paola. Also worth seeing is the small church dedicated to the Madonna della Neve, , and the Church of the Assumption, where the splendid sculpture of an Annunciation by Andrea di Francesco Guardi is preserved.
Casciana
The ancient village, of Etruscan and then Roman origin, is represented by the so-called Corte Aquisana, which dates back to the thirteenth century, with the beautiful tower and the Vicolo dell’Amore, a symbolic place dedicated to all lovers, but also the splendid architecture of the Oratory of the Madonna della Cava and the Church of San Nicolò.
The main attraction of Casciana consists of its Spa, originally founded by the Romans, which offers a spa, a spa and massage, and balneotherapy pools inside and outside.
The water of the thermal baths, called Acqua Mathela, flows at a constant temperature and is particularly indicated in the treatment of rheumatism and muscular and dermatological diseases.
The territory of Casciana Terme Lari also includes other small villages, which offer other attractions to add to those of the two main towns. In Parlascio, for example, you can visit the Etruscan archaeological area, from which the findings of the exhibition “Etruscans in Pelrlascio”, set up in Casciana Terme.
Here are also visible the remains of the Castle of Parlascio, and the Romanesque Church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, in which there is a valuable fresco depicting the two saints and the image called em>Holy Face, painted by Bartolomeo da Ceppato.
The Cherry Festival
The most important gastronomic attractions of the area are linked to the culinary tradition of Pisa, which includes, first of all, courses such as “pasta and chickpeas”, tripe, and the so-called “bordatino alla pisana”, a classic example of poor cuisine prepared with dried beans, kale, yellow flour, lard or ham. A local peculiarity is then the cherry salami. Among the sweet, inevitable cantuccini and castagnaccio.
The territory of Casciana Terme Lari offers an excellent mix of accommodation solutions, which include hotels, holiday homes, resorts, B&B and farmhouses.
