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Outside the Centre of Zeri, Tuscany.

Zeri dates back to veryeancient days and is without a doubt the purest heir of the Apuan group of the Ligurian peoples. Here life was lived according to the rhythms and cycles of nature and of the family which was the fundamental nucleus of the community and was an independent productive unit. Here, more than in other valleys, you can still find something of this internal, autonomous equilibrium dating back to ancient times but which has been preserved down the centuries without any substantial changes. The natural environment and Zeri’s old towns have remained intact in time thanks to the historical isolation of the area. And still today we can admire old farmhouses,churches,little towns perched high on hilltops and hidden mills.

The climate is particularly favourable to year-round tourism as in Winter the ski resorts of Zum Zeri-Passo Due Santi are open while in Spring and Summer there are many mountain trails to be enjoyed. As soon as you arrive in Zeri you get a feeling of sacredness: in Patigno, the administrative seat of the municipality, we find a sanctuary devoted to the Madonna of Lourdes on the Colle della Gretta hill and then there is the Church of Patigno, where Padre Beppino Cò attracts pilgrims from all over Italy.In his role of Father of the Order of Charismatics (his liberation masses are famous) he is and well known for his commitment and his unique religious charisma.

Zeri consists of 23 hamlets each one of which has its own church dedicated to a different saint and each town organises the festivities for its own patron saint. These celebrations
involve not only the townspeople who organise them but are also an occasion to be enjoyed by people from all over the area who come to discover the local traditions and hospitality.
Scattered throughoout the area there are many “maestà”, small marble bas reliefs of the Madonna or of different saints. You can see then as you make your way along the local roads and trails. Then there are the mysterious and atmospheric “facion,” or stone heads sculpted on the walls of some of the old farmhouses, the significance of which still remains a mystery.

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