Montefegatesi sits high above the other villages in Bagni di Lucca. It is 842 metres above sea level. It takes about 25 minutes to drive up the steep, winding road from La Villa, unless you are Italian and drive like Fangio, in which case it might only take 10 minutes. I prefer to live, so 25 minutes is just fine.
Because of its strategic position it was used by Lucca to guard the boundary with Modena, and as a result was subject to enemy assault.
All that is in the distant past, and now the village sits sleepily in the sun, enjoying its view over some of the other hamlets making up Bagni di Lucca.
After parking the car in the car parking area just outside the village we followed an Ape into town.
There are some pretty coloured houses.
And a tiny church in the first piazza.
From this square there are 2 narrow roads leading through the village. We took the high road towards the top for the exceptional views from there.
Take a closer look at that orange house on the hill opposite. It is the colour of a Halloween pumpkin. I love it!!
Along the way there is lots to see.
The cemetery in the distance.
Weeds. Look closer.
A lovely local Signora told me the plant is called scarletina and grows wild on rock walls all over the village.
I think that is Monte di Villa below the rooftops. ( I have since been informed that the village is Tereglio, thank you for the information)
There’s that orange house again.
At the top of the hill is the monument to Dante Aleghieri, built by the villagers in 1908.
This man never looks happy.
There are great views of the village from here.
Next time we will take the low road.
On the afternoon we went to Montfegatesi we experienced all kinds of weather. We had rain, sun, wind and even a little snow. It made for some dramatic skies.
There is a bus that goes from La Villa to Montefegatesi, but it only goes once or twice a day. Be sure you can get back if you go this way.
Click here to see Montefegatesi in spring.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 
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Montefegatessi is a beautiful town and your photos depict it perfectly, Debra. One extra bit of information, the reason why the locals erected Dante’s monument is that the author visited the town and that the nearby ravine called Orrido di Botri inspired his description of the entrance to Hell in the “Divina Comedia” . Indeed, it is quite an awesome landscape.
The area has very cold winters due to the altitude, as you know, it is quite a climb from Bagni, and they say that this is the reason why the elderly locals are very knowledgeable of the classics. They read Virgilio, Dante and Ariosto during the long winters.
Thanks for the extra comments on the Dante connection!
Thanks for the information on Dante. Apparently there are many people in the village named after Dante’s characters.
The village where we went with my family when I was younger ! What a pleasure to discover these pictures ! Thank you very much !
Montefegatesi is one of the most interesting in the area.
I love to visit Montefegatesi, the most stunning of the Bagni villages in my opinion, great post.
It certainly looked stunning on Sunday surrounded by those clouds.
Thank you for this post. I visited Bagni di Lucca just under a year ago and loved it (along with Lucca which I’ve been to twice). I also visited Riolo (to look at a property that I’ve been in love with for years but which, realistically, I couldn’t manage – not to mention the steep path that leads to it). Perhaps, next time, Montefegatesi …
Montefegatesi and the other mountain villages are beautiful, but a bit remote for me, which is why we chose Ponte a Serraglio.
Superb Debra. Those coloured houses crop up everywhere, every so often. I haven’t seen that same boldness of colour in Umbria for instance. It makes for some fabulous shots.. The Scarletina plant is divine. Thanks so much for reporting!
The orange house is much brighter than it appears in the photos. That plant was gorgeous and the lovely Signora appeared at just the right time.
As tends to happen in Italy. Don’t you think?
Lovely place… I have to go there!
You must visit our area one day.
I have been in Siena and have always wanted to visit Lucca but the area is a must now… thanks to you. 😉
There is much to see in our area and I think spring and autumn are the best times.
I love how they use rocks to hold down the terracotta tiles on the roofs…I find that funny for some reason. These are lovely pictures as always. You sure are adventuresome this trip. Please visit Crasciana (my hamlet) soon!! ha
I will get to Crasciana. I saw it from Casabasciana. I have been waiting for the spring to come to the mountain villages so they look green and lovely.
You sure know how to make a person what to return to this area around Bagni di Lucca! Well …. coming to this site is more like a torture. Of course I say that with a smile. Montfegatesi looks heavenly.
The village looks magical from above, just as you imagine a mountain village to look.
I should have my nose to the grind stone – instead I’m daydreaming: what spectacular scenery. I often think when looking at your pics of Italy that it was a good job Joh Bjelke Peterson didn’t hold sway there – he’d have flattened all those lovely old buildings with all their beautiful character. Poor Dante looks as though he never enjoyed a convivial long lunch,
Yes, it is just as well the Dean brothers didn’t make it to Italy.
So beautiful! These little towns are all so quaint! And I’m sure everyone living here is skinny…walking up and down all those hills must be very aerobic!
It has to be good for you walking up those hills on a regular basis.
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Montefegatesi is one of the most beautiful villages in the area but Pieve di Monti di Villa comes in a close second and is not quite as remote. I am only slightly biased! 🙂 Thanks for another great post, Debra. They are always the next best thing to being there.
Pieve di Monti di Villa is one of my favourite villages. I love it there.
Thanks to your well- informed blog and superbly detailed photography I made it to Bagni. Took my fold-up bike on the bus from Lucca, and after a hair-raising ride up, hiked up, down and around in many directions. My greatest discovery was the Etruscan spa and stoneworks hidden away high up in the woods. They say never go back, there are too many things before you. Bagni is certainly the exception, my kinda town. Thanks again.
That’s great, thank you! I’m pleased you enjoyed your visit.
Many years ago, I was challenged by a guy with a sporty hatchback to get to Montefegatesi from Guzzano, in less than 11 minutes, which I managed to by 10 seconds, riding a small 125cc Honda motorbike, carrying a passenger (witness). I remember slowing down as I came don the road into the village. We had something at the bar there. A little bit silly thing to do, but good for bragging rights, especially when I found out that the driver did that time at night, when you don’t have to worry about not seeing vehicles coming the other way…old times, good times, silly times…Thanks for your blogging!
Very brave! I am very cautious on the village roads, there are so many blind corners. I’m pleased you lived to tell the tale.
Once again hello Debra.
You make my day with your posts of your travels. Thus to Monte di Villa. Passing thru my home town of ka Pieve. Thank you for bringing back lots of memories
I am happy that you enjoy my posts about Bagni di Lucca. I enjoy collecting photos of the villages and sharing them.