Guide

The aim of this guide on is to give a clear GRONDOLA and simple description of the main attractions of each

borough, making it easy to organise day trips, a weekend VIGNOLA PRACCHIOLA MIGNEGNO visit, or even longer breaks of a week or more. SANTISSIMA ROCCA SIGILLINA There is a brief description, with photographs, of medieval ANNUNZIATA REGGIO EMILIA CAPRIO NOCE FORMENTARA PONTICELLO hamlets, churches, castles, fortresses and places CASTELLO

of extraordianary natural beauty. GROPPOLI TRESCHIETTO IERA Lunigiana covers an area which falls in part TORSANA MONTEREGGIO FILETTO CAMPORAGHENA in the province of and in part MAGRATE CASTIGLIONE DEL TERZIERE VIRGOLETTA in the province of , following the course VILLAFRANCA TAPONECCO COMANO SASSALBO IN LUNIGIANA CRESPIANO PANICALE of the River , from its spring in the hills CASTEVOLI VILLECCHIA LUSUOLO LICCINA NARDI above Pontremoli, in , to where it flows FORNOLI BASTIA MONTI MOMMIO into the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the region of . GIOVACAVALLO VERRUCOLA GENICCIOLA TERRAROSSA MONTEDIVALLI CASTIGLIONCELLO For more information visit the website on Luingiana: PALLERONE GRAGNOLA www.terredilunigiana.com BIBOLA CAPRIGLIOLA UGLIANCALDO

PONZANELLO VIANO EQUI TERME GIUCANO PULICA MARCIASO LA SPEZIA

CARRARA

MASSA

LUNIGIANA

Layout and graphics: Elisabetta Terroni - [email protected]

LIVORNO Aulla Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Caprigliola Tower of the Bishops of Luni (11th-14th century); walls built by the Medici family (16th century); The Brunella Fortress Saint Nicola’s Church A Renaissance building of the (13th century), historic 15th-17th century; probably built bishops’ residence. by Giovanni dalle Bande Nere. An impressive military structure built The electrical- on a quadrangular plan, it was taken mechanical nativity only once, in 1733 by the Spanish. scene in Pallerone Bibola Access via the portal of Saint Ruins of the castle The Natural History Thomas Beckett’s Church. Museum of Lunigiana (11th-14th century); The museum is situated in the remains of the fortified halls of the Brunella fortress. The walls, vaulted hamlet, exhibits, divided into three sections, Saint Bartholomew’s reconstruct the natural environments Church. of the area: the physical apsects and Nearby: Vecchietto, the habitats of the rivers and lakes. vaulted hamlet and Saint Bartholomew’s Church, (17th century).

Olivola Ruins of the castle (12th-16th century), The Abbey and Museum church of San Michele of San Caprasio (13th century). The abbey was founded in 884 by Nearby: Quercia, Adalberto I and is the site of Saint elegant residence of Caprasio’s tomb. It is situated the on an important crossroads of the and Saint Peter’s Church . You can admire the (18th century); Bigliolo, remnants of the castle original Romanesque apse, with (11th-16th century). three naves, rebuilt after the second FOR MORE INFORMATION world war. VISIT THE WEBSITE http://www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/aulla.php Bagnone Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Castiglione del Terziere Castle (10th-15th century), church of Saint Leonardo, ex convent of the Holy Bagnone Castle Annunciation. Built in the 13th-14th century. The impressive cylidrical stone Nearby: Corvarola; tower is the only remaining Lusana. Rural parish church original feature, next to the villa of Saints Ippolito of the Counts Ruschi-Noceti. and Cassiano Adjoining church of Saint Nicola 10th century. with wooden pulpit, (13th century) and historical hamlet. Treschietto Ruins of the castle (13th-15th century). Nearby: Vico; Corlaga, elegant family residence: Mochignano; Collesino, Church of San Giacomo Maggiore and tower house.

Church of Saint Maria 15th century. Built on the site Iera where an image of Our Lady Ruins of the castle, was found, near the ancient Saint Mathew’s hamlet of Gutula. church (12th century). Nearby: Compione Parish Church of Saint Nicolò 18th century. Large rectangualr building, impressive columns, FOR MORE INFORMATION Renaissance style capitals. VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/bagnone.php Casola in Lunigiana Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Codiponte - historic hamlet and parish church Parish church dedicated to the Saints Cornelio and Cipriano (8th-13th century): capitals with zoomorphic and phytomorphic images; Romanesque baptismal font. Castle ruins (14th century). Casola Tower and Nearby: Luscignano, with Saint Martino’s Church, Parish Church fortified walls elegant portals and marble basin. of Offiano 13th century. Cylindrical tower, 11th century. Restored today the bell-tower of (18th century) in Baroque style. the Church of Saint Felice. Castiglioncello Façade with 18th century portal Partially damaged following Fortified village, portals. and remnant of an image the earthquake in 1920. Nearby: Reusa, of a pilgrim. with Saint Margherita’s Church (12th century).

Church of Saint Felicita Ugliancaldo th th 15 -18 century. Baroque style, Fortified village, Saint polychrome marble , Andrew’s Church baptismal font. (13th century). Historic hamlet Nearby: Casciana, with Stone gateway, elegant family Saint Andrew’s Church houses, imprressive portals. (15th century).

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/casola.php Comano Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Camporaghena Saint Peter and Paul’s Church (12th century).

Comano Tower and ruins 12th century. Impressive ruins, cylindrical tower, surrounding walls, flanking towers.

Torsana Church of Saint Giacomo Maggiore (12th century). Ruins of the castle of Groppo San Piero

Crespiano Parish church of Saint Maria of Crespiano. 12th century. Restored over the centuries, immersion baptismal font (10th century).

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/comano.php Filattiera Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Ponticello Tower houses (14th-15th century). Medieval village, oratory of Saints Rocco Abbey of Saint Stephen and Bernardo of Sorano (17th century). 8th-10th century. Romanesque architecture, built with stones from Nearby: Scorcetoli, the river. Ancient place of worship. Church of Saint Andrew, The tomb stone Three naves, divided by circular niche with stele statue, of Leodgar pillars with simple capitals. tower house near Canale. Inside Saint George’s Church. Quadrangular bell tower. Lombard Bishop, or Gastald, who died in 752, promotor of Christianity in Lunigiana Caprio who encouraged the Tower houses, Church destruction of stone idols. of Saint Anna in Caprio di Sopra and the Church of Saint Maria Assunta Castle of Filattiera in Caprio di Sotto. th th 14 -16 century. Next to the main Nearby: Cavallana, square. Walls with Ghibelline Serravalle. (swallowtail) battlements, added at a later date. Nowadays a private residence.

Rocca Sigillina Ruins of a tower (16th century), Church of Saint George Saint George’s Church. 11th-12th century. Original residence of the Malaspina feudal lords. Tomb stone of Leodgar FOR MORE INFORMATION inside the church. Romanseque VISIT THE WEBSITE style. www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/filattiera.php Fivizzano Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Equi Terme Church of Saint Francesco (13th centruy), museum of the Caves and Thermal Springs of Equi. Nearby: Aiola, Church dedicated to Saint The Medicea Fountain Maurizio (13th century), ruins of the hermitage 17th century. Built by Cosimo of Saint George; Vinca, Saint Andrew’s Church (13th century); III. Built in marble and grey Monzone, fortified village, Church dedicated to Saint Michele, sandstone, surrounded by ancient monastery of the 10th century. a wrought iron railing. Church dedicated to Village of Verrucola th Saints Jacopo and Verrucola Castle (12 century), Chuch Antonio of Saint Margherita. 14th century. In the Medicea Nearby: Parish church of Pognana Square. It has three naves and (12th century), Romanesque style, Mommio - The Giants’ houses the “Madonna del Reggio”, capitals with zoomorphic and phytomorphic images. Water Pools which depicts the apparition Natural water pools formed of Our Lady in the village Viano by rock erosion along the course of Caugliano in 1595. Parish church of Saint Martino of the Mommio mountain stream. (13th century), Bishops’ tower, Church dedicated to Saint Biagio (13th century). Nearby: habitat of the Pioero, ancient Eurasian Dotterel.

Gragnola Castle (11th-14th century), tower houses, elegant houses of noble families, Church of the Saints Ippolito and Cassiano. Nearby: Alebbio, Church dedicated to Saint Geminiano The oratory of Saint (13th century); Gassano, fortified village, church dedicated Carlo Borromeo to the Saints Lucia and Lorenzo. 18th century. Sandstone portal, inside there is an oval plaque Sassalbo probably by Ottavio Dandini. Nearby: Parish church of Vendaso Giovanni Fantoni (1755-1807), th (12 century), Romanesque style, FOR MORE INFORMATION a poet from Fivizzano, known by capitals with zoomorphic and VISIT THE WEBSITE the name of Labindo, is buried phytomorphic images. www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/fivizzano.php here. Fosdinovo Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Giucano Fortified village, Church dedicated to the Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano, noble family home.

Fosdinovo Castle 13th-14th century. Impressive family residence overlooking Ponzanello the Marga valley. Dante’s Castle ruins Caniparola Villa 16th-18th century. Three floor room and the ghost of the (11th-13th century), stone building, access via a double marchioness Bianca Maria gateway giving access staircase, frescoes in the rooms Aloisia Malaspina. to the village, Saint by Antonio Contestabile and Martino’s Church Francesco Natali. Italian style The Church of San (13th century). Remigio gardens. 13th-16th century. Funerary Nearby: Tendola, Church monument in white marble dedicated to Saint dedicated to Galeotto Caterina. Malaspina dated 1367.

Pulica Fortified village, Church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, site where a helmet belonging to a Ligurian-Apuan warrior was found.

Marciaso The Bianchi Oratory Fortified village, Church 14th centruy. Impressive marble dedicated to Saint façade with the Malaspina Bartolomeo th Crest, depicting an armed dog (15 century). biting a flowering thorn, FOR MORE INFORMATION 17th century. VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/fosdinovo.php Places to visit Off the beaten nearby Licciana Castle track 13th-16th century. Transformed into a family residence. Only a large tower and two small Bastia corner towers remain of the Castle (15th centruy); original building. Church dedicated to Saint Jacopo Apostle. Church dedicated to Nearby: Casteldelpiano, the Saints Giacomo and castle of the 16th century. Cristoforo Rebuilt in 1705. Greek cross plan with . It is joined to Monti the castle by an arch. Terrarossa Castle Castle (16th century) (12th-16th century); Castle on the low lands built Venelia Parish Church to control the Via Francigena. (18th century) with apse It has a square plan and four of the 10th century. angular bastions. Nearby: Pontebosio, castle of the 15th century.

Taponecco Vaulted hamlet, Church dedicated to Saint Maria Assunta. Nearby: Varano, church dedicated to Saint Nicolò (13th century), ancient tower used as a bell tower; Apella, cylindrical tower of the 13th century, church dedicated to Saint Maria Assunta; Tavernelle, elegant family homes and impressive portals.

Panicale Elegant family residence of the 15th century, fortified village with stone gateway, shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/licciana.php Mulazzo Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Castevoli Castle (16th-17th century), fortified village, parish church dedicated to Saint Martino di Vico di Castevoli (10th century) Dante’s hexagonal situated outside the Tower and the ruins village. of the castle and walls

Church dedicated Lusuolo to Saint Niccolò Castle Shrine dedicated Situated in the main square, (12th-17th century), to Our Lady: Madonna next to the Malaspina Zini fortified village with del Monte residence. Rebuilt after the stone portal situated 12th century. Benedictine earthquake of 1920. along a secondary Sancturay, situated in an route of the Via isolated spot in the woods, Church dedicatd Francigena. Romanesque style. to Saint Martino 13th century. Ancient parish church situated in the Montereggio cemetery. Impressive ruins, Fortified village, double bell-gable with two Malaspina residence bells. (15th century), fortified church dedicated to Saint Apollinare (16th century).

Groppoli Brignole Villa (17th century), Gavedo castle (17th century).

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/mulazzo.php Podenzana Places to visit Off the beaten nearby The Gaggio Sanctuary track dedicated to Our Lady: Madonna della Neve 15th-17th century. Built on the Montedivalli Montedivalli Parish site of an apparition of the Medieval village, church Virgin Mary in a chestnut tree, Montedivalli parish 10th-12th century. Romanesque part of the tree can be seen church. style, Corinthian capitals, inside the sanctuary. marble statues.

Podenzana Castle 12th-14th century. Rebuilt in the 20th centruy.

Genicciola Excavations of a Ligurian necropolis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/podenzana.php Pontremoli Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Grondola Ruins of the hill-top fort (13th century), chapel dedicated to Our Lady, Madonna di Montemese, near the village, hand decorated stone portals. Nearby: Guinadi; Cervara, apotropaic symbols, the Farfarà waterfall; Braia, church dedicated to Saint Michele Archangel; Bratto, church dedicated to Saint George.

Bell tower Pracchiola Giaredo Gorge 14th century. Ancient tower of Piscio waterfall near Pracchiola Small canyon formed by the Cacciaguerra fortification, on the Magra river, church dedicated the mountain river Gordana. th built by Castruccio Castracani. to Saint Maria (18 century). The gorge is about 500 metres Nearby: Groppodalosio, medieval long with vertical cliffs about Santa Maria Catherdral bridge over the river Magra; Casalina, church dedicated 30 metres high, and in some 17th century. Marble façade to Saint Matteo. places it is only a few metres with bronze doors. Baroque wide. interior, latin cross plan, Mignegno frescoes by Natali. Mechanical nativity scene, church dedicated to Saint Maria Assunta with memorial stone dated 1495 in The Piagnaro castle memory of the fire of Pontremoli, oratory of San and the Museum Terenziano (16th century) near the village. of Stele Statues 11th-14th century. The name Santissima Annunziata ‘piagnaro’ comes from the Church and convent dedicated to the sandstone slates traditionally Santissima Annunziata (15th century). used as roof tiles. The main Former convent of the Order of tower is the oldest part. Site Saint Augustine with one nave and of the Museum of Stele Statues. an octagonal marble shrine (1526), Houses the original statues, probably by Jacopo Sansovino. or copies, of the all the stele statues of ancient Lunigiana. Vignola Saint Pancrazio parish church Oratory of Nostra Donna (12th century), Romanesque style and the tower with three naves. It houses the of Castelnuovo “pipìn”, small coloured statues made FOR MORE INFORMATION 14th century. Facing the Magra out of wood depicting pagan idols. river and Cesare Battisti bridge. VISIT THE WEBSITE Nearby: Bassone. www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/pontremoli.php Tresana Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Villecchia Vaulted hamlet, church dedicated to Saint Domenico. Nearby: sanctuary Ruins of Tresana Castle dedicated to Our Lady: 14th-17th century. Impressive Madonna del Canale in ruins of a quadrangular tower Pera. and a circular tower.

Villa di Tresana Castle (14th-16th century), church dedicated to Church dedicated Saint Siro, Baroque to Saint Maria Assunta style. of Riccò Tower with merlons, medieval style, and bell tower. Villa di Tresana Castle 14th-15th century. Elegant family residence on a quadrangular plan and two Giovagallo cylindrical towers positioned at Ruins of the castle diagonally opposite corners. in an isolated spot in the woods. Ruins of the Church dedicated to Saint Michele Archangel. Nearby: Bola, church dedicated to Saint Brizio; Novegigola, Church dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Martyr.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/tresana.php Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Malgrate Fortified village, castle (13th-15th century), cylindrical tower, stone gateway giving access to the village, Saint Lorenzo’s Church dedicated Church (17th century). to Saint Giovanni In the old part of the village, near the bridge over the river Bagnone. Baroque style.

The Bell Tower of Saint Nicolò’s Church The church was demolished in Filetto 1968. Near Malnido Castle. Fortified village on the low Fornoli Church lands, church dedicated Church decicated to Saint Ruins of Malnido Castle to the Saints Giacomo Maria Assunta, near the ford th th 12 -15 century. Site where and Filippo (12th century), crossing where two branches the ancient ‘gabelle’ tax elegant family homes. of the Via Francigena meet. It is was collected along the difficult to reach. Via Francigena.

Ethnographical Museum of Lunigiana The museum is situated in an Virgoletta old mill on the river Bagnone. Fortified village, It houses traditional historic stone gateway giving objects of everyday family and access to the village, rural life and artisan trades castle (11th-16th century), of Lunigiana. church dedicated to the Saints Gervasio and Protasio (13th century).

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/villafranca.php Zeri Places to visit Off the beaten nearby track

Noce di Zeri Rural buildings, bridge over the Gordana mountain stream, oratory of the Virgin Mary, oratory of the Holy Spirit. Church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist of Chioso, Rossano Situated in an isolated spot, between Montelama and Valle. Inside there are three statues in polychrome wood of Saint John the Baptist, Saint Terenziano and Our Lady of Carmine. Castello Few ruins of Zeri Castle The Colombara Waterfall Church dedicated (13th-14th century), Situated between Paretola and to Saint Medardo oratory of Saint Agostino. Bosco di Rossano. in Chiesa di Rossano 14th-19th century. Impressive restored building. Original bell tower. 20th century frescoes by the Pontremoli artist Triani.

La Formentara Abandoned stone hamlet in the Zeri valley. Church dedicated to Saint Maria Maddalena of Adelano Situated in an isolated spot in the mountains of the Adelano FOR MORE INFORMATION valley. VISIT THE WEBSITE www.terredilunigiana.com/eng/zeri.php Not only does Lunigiana Distances offer many places of outstanding natural beauty Aulla - (Riomaggiore): 38 km and stunning architectural Aulla - : 25 km features, it is also in an ideal Aulla - Portovenere: 36 km base for organising day trips Aulla - Carrara: 35 km to other extraordinary areas: Aulla - Sestri Levante: 60 km the Cinque Terre Aulla - Portofino: 88 km (www.lecinqueterre.org/eng/), Aulla - : 78 km with its stunning coastline Aulla - : 75 km and picturesque harbour towns Aulla - Pistoia: 115 km and villages the Gulf of Poets Aulla - Firenze: 150 km (www.ilgolfodeipoeti.org/en/) near Lerici and Portovenere, Pontremoli - Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore): 56 km the seaside resort of Versilia Pontremoli - Lerici: 43 km (www.inversilia.org/eng/), Pontremoli - Portovenere: 54 km famous for its night life Pontremoli - Carrara: 52 km and sandy beaches, the Marble Pontremoli - Sestri Levante: 77 km Mountains and caves of Carrara Pontremoli - Portofino: 105 km in the and, last but Pontremoli - Pisa: 95 km not least, Tuscany’s famous art Pontremoli - Lucca: 95 km cities: Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia Pontremoli - Pistoia: 135 km and - with their unique Pontremoli - Firenze: 170 km architecture priceless and works of art. Fivizzano - Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore): 59 km Fivizzano - Lerici: 46 km Fivizzano - Portovenere: 57 km Fivizzano - Carrara: 33 km Fivizzano - Sestri Levante: 80 km Fivizzano - Portofino: 110 km Fivizzano - Pisa: 100 km Fivizzano - Lucca: 95 km Fivizzano - Pistoia: 135 km Fivizzano - Firenze: 170 km

www.terredilunigiana.com