The "Svizzera Pesciatina", literally Pescia's Switzerland, is a region of ten characteristic villages, fractions of the municipality of Pescia, called the "Dieci Castella": literally the Ten Castles: Pietrabuona, Medicina, Fibbialla, Aramo, Sorana, Vellano, San Quirico, Castelvecchio, Stiappa, Pontito. There are, however, other characteristic hamlets such as Calamari.

The eleventh castle, Lignana, was destroyed in 1364 by the Pisans. The Romanesque church remains of the whole town.

The region is split into two valleys, the Val di Forfora where one of the branches of the Pescia river flows and the Val di Torbola where the other branch of the river flows; the two branches join near the village of Ponte di Sorana.

These ancient villages share many characteristics: they are exposed to the south, they are protected by walls (in many cases destroyed) and by a watchtower which over time has seen its function change into a residence or a bell tower.

The countries of "Pesciatina Switzerland", once populated, have undergone a progressive depopulation in recent years. Nonetheless, the castles are the destination of a very consistent tourist flow during the summer season, even exceeding the number of permanent inhabitants by three times.

The Sorana bean is famous, a highly sought-after legume of excellent quality, the production of which is rather scarce and limited to the surroundings of the locality of the same name.