The municipality of Montecarlo lies in the province of Lucca and its territory has a surface area of 16 square kilometres and the population is 4300.
The ancient centre surrounded by brick walls, still almost entirely intact, stands on a hill (163 metres a.s.l.).
Montecarlo, which runs right across the "Wine route of Montecarlo and the hills of Lucca" and has recently received the "Bandiera Arancione", the Italian Touring Club's symbol of quality for tourism and environment, can be easily reached from the motorway exit of Altopascio (6 km).

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History:

Once Montecarlo’s hills between Lucca and Montecatini Terme were called “Cerruglia” (from “cerro” meaning turkey-oak or oak wood), “Vivinaia” (because situated on the Via Vinaria), “Montechiari” (the Montechiari hill is the highest point in the municipal territory 186 metres a.s.l.).
In 1331 the village of Vivinaia was sacked by the Florentine army as it retreated after an unsuccessful siege of Lucca.
On the Cerruglio hill, Prince Charles, the son and heir of King John of Bohemia, was called on to defend the people of Lucca in 1332 and ordered new military works to be carried out and authorised the settlement of the refugees from Vivinaia.
The fortified centre of Montecarlo (which derives from Mons Caroli , the name of its founder Prince Charles IV of Luxembourg) is therefore the continuation of Vivinaia, curtis of royal property at the time of the Longobards and an important base in Tuscia.
In 1437, during the war between Lucca and Florence, Montecarlo was occupied by the Florentines.
The fortress, historical symbol of Montecarlo, stands on the highest point of the Cerruglio hill and its oldest part, called “Mastio”, is almost cylindrical in shape and is situated at the northwest edge.
It is completed on the opposite site by two square towers called the tower of the “Apparizione” and the “Santa Barbara” tower (in the east), which creates a triangular-shaped layout.
Afterwards the enlargement of the fortress was made by Paolo Guinigi, Lord of Lucca and was completed in 1555 under Cosimo I de’Medici. Not longer considered to be suitable for military purpose, the fortress was offered for sale by Pietro Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and it became private property in 1775.
The restoration and maintenance work on the monumental complex has been carried out by the owners themselves and it can be visited by appointment.
Of the fourteenth century three entrances to Montecarlo, situated along the fortified perimeter, all that remain are Porta Fiorentina (in the east side of the wall), Porticciola or Porta a Lucca (in the west) and Porta Nuova (in the south).
Along the main road (Via Roma, which was known as the Via Grande) there is the Collegiate Church of Sant’Andrea which total restoration work began at the end of the 18th century. What remains of the ancient layout of this new church is the lower part of the façade and the portal.
Of the old church remains a fresco depicting the Madonna del Soccorso, painted in 1387.
In via Roma there is also the Fondazione Pellegrini-Carmignani, which was the site of the convent of the Poor Clares (it was built between 1610 and 1614); today it is the site of the municipal library, the historical archives and different associations.
The old convent complex also includes the 17th century church of Sant’Anna and the old cloister of the convent is now a park.
In Via Carmignani there is the Accademia dei Rassicurati Theatre, built in 1795 by the Accademia dei Rassicurati (an association of aristocrats and well-off countrymen).
At the foot of Montecarlo’s hill lies the Romanesque parish church of San Piero in Campo, which has a nave and two aisles.