Situated 627 meters above sea level, Stiappa nestles on the southern slope of Mount Battifolle. In ancient times, it marked the border between the Lucca area and Tuscany, and was thus the site of numerous wars. In 1430, it was occupied by the Florentines, but returned to Lucca in 1441. This small castle has always lacked defensive features, having exploited the fortified layout of its houses over the centuries. Sismondi would later write of this town, praising the distinctive beauty of its women. Stiappa has suffered from the abandonment of its inhabitants, but in the summer it comes alive with vacationers and villagers returning for their holidays.

How to see in StiappaThe church dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta houses some very important works: a late 17th-century canvas from the Emilian school depicting the Assumption, and a 16th-century Madonna Enthroned from the Pistoia school. Also stunning are the four Romanesque columns, perhaps from an older church. Next to the church stands the bell tower, which was completely rebuilt in 1866. Leaving the church, it's also worth noting an adjacent building, a little lower down, which once housed the Company of the Visitation. On its door is a plaque dated 1760, commemorating restoration work carried out that year.

From Stiappa it is possible to go down to the trail of the mills Mulino del Fontanone, con un percorso trekking chiamato la Via dei Mulini.