In Lucca and the Lucca area, Saint Martin has been much loved since the Lombard era, when his cult was introduced to the Lucca area, as were that of other warrior and military saints. In the historic center, a chapel has been dedicated to him. cathedral And in the hill towns and villages of the Lucca plain, many bear the saint's name and have churches dedicated to him, recalling the close bond that Saint Martin had with farmers during his lifetime. Perhaps this is why in the cathedral atrium there is a unique calendar that recalls the main tasks required to tend the fields and make them productive.

On the hills of San Martino in Vignale, for example, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and oak forests

and not far away, San Martino in Freddana, whose parish church, rebuilt in 1904 in a lively eclectic style, is dedicated to our Saint.
On the opposite side (north-east), San Martino in Colle, famous for the presence of the majestic and legendary Witches' Oak, a monumental 600-year-old tree with a crown over 40 metres in diameter.
So many places to see for the first time or rediscover, walking slowly through the narrow city streets or along nature trails, illuminated by the warm, intense colours of autumn.

Saint Martin of Tours is the patron saint of France, of the Pontifical Swiss Guards, of beggars, innkeepers, and knights. Everyone knows the story of Martin, a Roman soldier and imperial guard in the city of Amiens, in Gaul.

On a cold day, during a horseback patrol,

He encountered a half-naked and suffering beggar. Out of pity, he took the sword he had with him and cut his military cloak in half, giving part of it to the poor man. The following night, Jesus appeared to him in a dream, dressed in half his cloak. Martin converted, was baptized, and many years later became bishop of Tours.
He devoted himself with passion to his mission as a "pastor", especially in rural and agricultural areas.

Even popular proverbs and sayings are often linked to the rites and customs of peasant tradition.

LIndian summer These are the days at the beginning of November when the weather is usually pleasant and they allude to the gesture of generosity towards the beggar, which also caused the sky to clear and the temperature to become milder.
These days also coincide with the maturation period of the new wine and in San Martino every must becomes wine, an opportunity to gather and celebrate the fruits of the earth and toast with new wine, accompanied by roasted chestnuts and a delicious mill soup with a spicy, freshly pressed oil.
 

Lucca, we were saying, dedicated to San Martino none other than its most important church,

the imposing Lucca Romanesque-style cathedral.

A large statue depicting the saint of Tours on horseback sharing his precious cloak with the poor is one of the decorations that enrich the facade of the church.
One of the eleven bastions of the Walls is also named after San Martino, between Porta San Jacopo and Porta Santa Maria. Its evocative, illuminated underground tunnels, once storage areas for weapons and ammunition, are now pedestrian passages leading into the heart of the city. Above are the remains of the gun ports and a unique tower from the old city walls, incorporated into the new structure of the sixteenth-century bastion.