On the banks of the river Serchio, in Tuscany halfway between Lucca and the Garfagnana district, there stands a village, Borgo a Mozzano, that has a wealth of historical association, art and local traditions. Around the ancient village centre, which stretches parallel to the river, villas and peasants'houses are scattered here and there among the greenery of the hillside. Borgo a Mozzanois the geographic, economic and social centre of a very extensive communal territory that comprehends no fewer that sixteen villages and hamlets-sixteen rural centres of medieval and even Roman origin that preserve their primitive urban structure intact: a close huddle of houses around a bell tower of weathered stone, winding cobbled lanes, archways and sculptured portals. Here and there among the olives are to be seen well preserved Romanesque churches and hermitages, such as those of Cerreto, San Martino in Greppo, Sa