Abetone Pyramids

The Abetone Pyramids stand in the centre of the mountain village at approximately 1,375 metres above sea level. The two stone monuments mark the historic frontier once separating the Grand Duchy of Tuscany from the Duchy of Modena.

They were commissioned in the second half of the eighteenth century to celebrate the opening of the road across the Abetone Pass. This new connection was designed to improve movement and trade through the Apennines, turning the pass into an important link between the territories on either side of the mountains.

The Tuscan pyramid was designed by the mathematician and engineer Leonardo Ximenes, while Pietro Giardini created its counterpart on the Modenese side. Both monuments carry marble decoration and inscriptions commemorating the rulers who promoted the project, Pietro Leopoldo and Francesco III.

The pyramids are outdoors and can be viewed at any time. They make a quick cultural stop in the village centre and a useful starting point for understanding the historic Ximenian road and the surrounding mountain landscape. Take care around traffic and expect snow or ice in winter.

Sources: Visit Tuscany — Abetone Pyramids; Visit Tuscany — Abetone Cutigliano; Wikimedia Commons — image and location data.

Image credit: Fluctuat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.