Pratalecchia
Pratalecchia, a charming village located at about 600 meters above sea level along a mountain ridge. Reachable via a dirt path, Pratalecchia develops around a central road that divides the town into two sections: to the west are the residential houses, while to the east are the agricultural and service structures, such as barns, stables and drying rooms.
The origins of the village are uncertain. Although the oldest date engraved on the architrave of a house dates back to 1814, the presence of centuries-old chestnut trees, estimated to be about 300 years old, suggests a much earlier human settlement. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Pratalecchia had about 70-80 inhabitants, but from the 1960s onwards the village has gradually depopulated.
The environmental resources that supported the life of the village were mainly the surrounding chestnut groves, used both for the harvest of chestnuts and for the production of wood; vegetable gardens located at a lower level than the town, taking advantage of the natural slope of the land for drainage and grazing; and a cistern for collecting rainwater.
Today, Pratalecchia is a suggestive testimony of rural life, immersed in a natural context of great beauty and rich in history, which offers visitors a dive into the past and a timeless atmosphere.
Address: Via Pratalecchia, 50033 Firenzuola FI