Father Libero Raglianti was born in Cenaia (a hamlet of Crespina Lorenzana, Pisa) on 22 November 1914 into a farming family. He entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1938. After completing his first period of pastoral service in the parish of Pontedera, he was appointed on 4 August 1940 as parish priest of the church of Valdicastello, a hamlet of Pietrasanta, in Versilia.

On several occasions he had expressed his dissatisfaction with the Fascist regime. After 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile marking Italy's surrender to the Allied forces, he actively collaborated with the partisan groups. In particular he worked with the unit led by Lorenzo Bandelloni of Seravezza, and after the war was officially recognised as a combatant partisan. As the front line drew nearer, he quickly managed to organise assistance for thousands of displaced people, procuring food, supplies and accommodation. He was accompanied by Salesian cleric Renzo Tognetti, who acted as a liaison with the ‘Bandelloni’ group. Tognetti was killed on 10 September 1944 and was also recognised as a partisan fighter.

The relief work for displaced persons was ended by the roundups in mid-August in the village of Valdicastello. Dozens of men, including Father Libero, were arrested and transferred to Nozzano. Raglianti was subjected to interrogation and torture for days: on 29 August 1944, he was shot in Laiano di Filettole (Vecchiano). A sign reading ‘Bandit who attacked German troops’ was placed on his body.

After the Liberation, monuments were erected and plaques placed in various locations in his memory. Among these, the monument in Valdicastello Carducci stands out. It is situated in the square named after him, next to the church, which also bears a commemorative plaque on its wall.

On 5 October 1964, the then President of the Republic, Antonio Segni, awarded Raglianti the Gold Medal for Civil Valour with the following citation: ‘He exercised his priestly ministry with rare self-sacrifice, always carrying out generous and selfless work for the good of his parishioners. During the enemy occupation, with humble heroism, he aided displaced persons, welcomed the persecuted and wounded with Christian charity, and devoted himself to countless initiatives to save his flock and alleviate their suffering. Suspected by the invader, he wished to continue, with contempt for danger, in his exemplary work; when captured, he endured, with silent courage, torture and abuse, facing death with serenity. A shining example of priestly love, pushed to the point of the conscious sacrifice of his life.’