Rich in history and memories, the village of Braia consists of a small group of houses nestled on a sunny plateau along the road to the Brattello Pass, where some sections of the long mule track, now partially paved which climbs from Pontremoli, still remain.

Braia has always been a village of skilled and industrious craftsmen, who excelled in wood and stonework, as can still be seen in the typical houses, narrow and tightly clustered around the parish church of St. Michael the Archangel.

The church dates back to the 18th century and was later renovated in 1919, but its name suggests much older origins, as the dedication to the Archangel often indicates the existence of a religious building from the Lombard era.

However, while the exact period of the church’s construction remains uncertain, we know for sure that a chapel in Braia is documented as early as 1245, under the authority of the parish church of Vignola, a small stone church typical of this area. In fact, an imperial decree from Frederick II lists several communities, including Braia, whose founding appears to be much older.