The walls of Perpoli

Perpoli

The village of Perpoli now presents two concentric circles of walls; the older one, of medieval origin, lies within the village in the highest part and is now just a low wall. The newer, outer wall instead was built during the Renaissance and possesses a monumental stone entrance gate; gradually it has been incorporated into houses.

The fortification was originally part of a system of garrisons and towers controlling the territory along the roads, in particular those of the Serchio valley and that across the pass of Monteperpoli. A stronghold of Lucca since the XIII^th century, it became a reference point in the military set up of the Serchio valley; its importance increased when part of Garfagnana accepted the domination of the House of Este in the XV^th century. Perpoli remained loyal to Lucca and became so an outpost bordering on the possessions of Este. In the XVI^th-XVII^th centuries, because of continual conflicts, the defensive system along the border was strengthened and Perpoli was surrounded with new walls that can still in part be seen incorporated into buildings; access to the village is through the monumental gate.
From here we can see the Rocca di Ceserana on the other side of the river as well as that of Trassillico.