Lunigiana

Territory. Lunigiana, from the Apennines to the sea, is a land to visit, discover, taste, in order to experience a holiday in total harmony with nature. Along the Via Francigena, one of the oldest and, for centuries, more popular itineraries to reach Rome (quoted for the first time by Sigerico, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 994), pilgrims, merchants and armies left their traces in castles, parish churches and hamlets which characterize to this day an intact and almost indestructible natural landscape. Castles, parish churches and Romanesque Churches, medieval hamlets and aristocratic structures can be visited in a tour that offers history, hospitality and strong emotions in all of Lunigiana: summer and winter sports complexes, thermal baths, the possibility of excursions of speleological interest and local traditions are all ingredients which add to the rich tourist attractions of this land suspended between mountain ranges and the sea. Close by are the Cinque Terre of Liguria and many beautiful Tuscan cities of art, all immersed in an uncontaminated natural environment. The numerous villages and towns offer various excursions and interesting tours, such as:

Villafranca in Lunigiana
Hamlet with shop signs and structures of the ancient workshops. To visit: the Church of S. Nicolò (twelfth century); Ethnographical Museum of Lunigiana which hosts treasures of the rural local culture (for information 0187 439417). In the outskirts: Filetto, enclosed hamlet of Byzantine origin which maintains a quadrangular aspect of the Roman "Castrum"; Malgrate: medieval hamlet with Malaspinian castle (dating from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century) dominated by a cylindrical tower and protected by a walled enclosure.

Pontremoli
Northern gate of Lunigiana and typical medieval town, was developed by the union of many houses around its castle. The Piagnaro Castle is situated on the top of a hill above the Cisa main road, it has recently been totally restored and hosts the Museum of the Statue Stele. The castle and the characteristic houses of the town are positioned in such a way that they seem to defend the historical centre, which is closed off on the north side by Porta Parma and on the south side by the confluence of the two rivers Magra and Verde. The borough hosts numerous monuments such as the Cathedral of S. Maria del Popolo (seventeenth century) with its baroque interior, the bell-tower Campanone, the tower of the old city walls which devided Guelphs and Ghibellines, the Church of S. Colombano and the Church of S. Pietro with its Labyrinth of the Pilgrim sculpture, the Church of SS. Annunziata, built in 1471, the baroque work-of-art of the Church of Nostra Donna and the Teatro della Rosa, one of the first theatres in Italy recently restored and full of rich baroque interiors. The town of Pontremoli hosts the Bancarella Prize, a famous literary prize held once a year on the third Sunday of July.

Filattiera
Ancient Ligurian-Apuane settlement; medieval capital of the Malaspina dello Spino Fiorito. To visit: Church of S. Giorgio with Leodgar's gravestone and medieval defence tower of the fifteenth century castle. At the foot of the village, the Parish Church of Sorano (dating from the eighth to the tenth century) important example of Romanesque Art. In the outskirts: Ponticello, small and dainty, a jewel in its own right; Caprio, interesting hamlet with ruins of tower-houses.

Bagnone
This village is characterized by a castle, built on the top of a hill, and by its houses, built at the foot of the hill. To visit: the Marquis's castle with cylindrical tower (fourteenth century), frequent in many castles of Lunigiana. In the outskirts: hamlet and the castle of Castiglione del Terziere (for information contact 0187 429010), (eleventh century); Jera, small village in the mountains that offers wonderful views.

Mulazzo
Hamlet of Byzantine origin which became the capital of the Malaspina dello Spino Secco. To visit: octagonal tower, known as "The Tower of Dante" (where Dante Alighieri was once hosted by the Malaspina family), ruins of the Malaspinian castle (dating from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century), imposing arcades of the ancient aqueduct (fifteenth century); Alessandro Malaspina Research Centre, a sixteenth century navigator (for information contact 0187 439712). In the outskirts: on the road to Gavedo, home of a sixteenth century castle, stands the ancient Romanic Church of S. Martino (eighth century); Montereggio, another picturesque and characteristic village, is plunged in the chestnut woods and is country-home to wandering booksellers; finally the medieval Monastery of the “Madonna del Monte” and its famous fourteenth century icon of Mary.

Aulla
The town is dominated by the fortress of Brunella (dating from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century), today home of the Natural History Museum of Lunigiana (for information contact 0187 409077). In the outskirts: the hamlet of Bibola with its spiral architectural structure and the ruins of an enormous castle (dating from the twelfth to the thirteenth century); the medieval wall-enclosed hamlet of Caprigliola with its cylindrical tower (twelfth century).

Comano
The Malaspinian Castle (dating from the eleventh to the thirteenth century) is immersed in a suggestive landscape and is dominated by an imposing circular tower. In the outskirts: Romanesque Parish Church of Crespiano (eleventh century), the only remaining architectural structure being the bell-tower .

Equi Terme
Ancient hamlet set in front of the Apuane Alps. To visit: Caves of Equi (for information contact 0585 942122), speleological tour, thermal baths (for information contact 0585 949300) with beneficial sulphureous springs; Natural Regional Park of the Apuane Alps (meeting point 0585 97544). Cross over Equi and you will arrive at the ancient route that leads to the Marble Quarries. In the outskirts: Vinca renowned for its famous bread.

Casola in Lunigiana
The Lunigiana gate to the Apuane Alps; its territory conserves numerous evidence of the Middle Ages. To visit: cylindrical tower (dating from the eleventh to the fifteenth century), Territorial Museum of the Valley of Aulella (for information contact 0585 90361) where you will find a collection of pre-historical remains (for information 0585 90361). In the outskirts: the Parish Churches of Codiponte and Offiano, ancient walled-in hamlets.

Fosdinovo
Set inside its ancient walls, where you can breathe both sea air and mountain air, stands the Malaspina castle (dating from the 14 th to 17 th century), the Church of S. Remigio (1367), panoramic point. In the outskirts: Caniparola where you can find the villa of Malaspina. Luni, Sarzana, Cinque Terre.

Licciana Nardi
In this territory you can admire castles, parish churches, tower-houses, hamlets and fortified control walls of the Malaspina family, all dating back to the same period. The hamlet, rich in decorated portals, develops along the main road and is closed off by the Malaspina castle. In the outskirts: the castles of Monti (thirteenth century) and the castle of Bastia (fifteenth century), Terrarossa (sixteenth century); the parish church of Venelia .