Pievepelago, Italian comune
Pievepelago is a small town nestled in the Apennine Mountains of Modena Province, surrounded by forests and green hills with narrow streets and old stone buildings. Located at about 2,560 feet (781 meters) elevation within the Frignano Regional Park, it provides access to mountain lakes, hiking trails, and ski slopes throughout the seasons.
Pievepelago emerged several centuries ago and developed as a living mountain community rooted in pastoral and agricultural traditions. Nearby medieval sites include Roccapelago Castle and the Pelago Fortress, where archaeologists discovered ancient artifacts and well-preserved mummies that reveal the area's past settlements.
The town hosts the Infiorata festival, where residents create colorful flower carpets on the streets during the Corpus Domini Sunday procession. This annual celebration brings the community together and reflects local traditions that families pass down through generations.
The town is easily reached via State Road 324 through Passo delle Radici and State Road 12 through Passo dell'Abetone, which connect to neighboring regions. It serves as a practical base for hikes to Lago Santo and surrounding peaks via marked trails through chestnut, beech, and pine forests that require varying fitness levels.
The Pelago Fortress contains archaeological remains and well-preserved mummies studied by the Istituto di Mummificazione, offering unexpected insights into the region's settlement patterns. The nearby Ponte della Fola, an early medieval bridge, reveals craftsmanship details from this remote mountain era.
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