The small village of Larciano

In the province of Pistoia, immersed in the Tuscan landscape, Larciano is born, a small village structured in different districts extending into the plain detached from the slopes of Monte Albano. Larciano is an ideal location for tourists, given its centrality; in fact it is located between Pistoia, Pisa and the provinces of Florence. The history of the village is characterized by its castle and its ruins; a fortification used in the Middle Ages as a watchtower. In ancient times the walls were garnished with sturdy towers, today of the four towers the highest one remains, surrounded by the keep. In the center of the courtyard is the still functioning water tank; access to the castle is through the three doors facing the town square. Today a museum area has been set up inside the keep, where archaeological finds dating back to the prehistoric and Renaissance periods are preserved. Even today it is possible to climb the main square-shaped tower, through the 200 steps. The city wall has three doors: Porta San Marco, Porta Bagno and Porta Meridionale. The Bagno and San Marco doors have the same characteristics; the Southern Gate is the most recent and was built following an extension of the walls. The church of San Rocco is the main place of worship and is presented in neo-Renaissance style, inside the work of greatest value is the fresco of the Madonna in Gloria of the nineteenth century. On the territory there is the Castelmartini Observatory, included in the list of the International Astronomical Union for being one of the most prolific for the number of observations.