2014 Guide PARMA The aim of this guide on Lunigiana 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. PONTREMOLI SANTISSIMA ROCCA SIGILLINA There is a brief description, with photographs, of medieval ANNUNZIATA REGGIO EMILIA ZERI CAPRIO NOCE FORMENTARA PONTICELLO hamlets, churches, castles, fortresses and places CASTELLO of extraordianary natural beauty. GROPPOLI FILATTIERA TRESCHIETTO IERA Lunigiana covers an area which falls in part MULAZZO BAGNONE TORSANA MONTEREGGIO FILETTO CAMPORAGHENA in the province of Massa Carrara and in part MAGRATE CASTIGLIONE DEL TERZIERE VIRGOLETTA in the province of La Spezia, following the course VILLAFRANCA TAPONECCO COMANO SASSALBO IN LUNIGIANA CRESPIANO PANICALE of the River Magra, from its spring in the hills CASTEVOLI VILLECCHIA LUSUOLO LICCINA NARDI above Pontremoli, in Tuscany, to where it flows FORNOLI BASTIA TRESANA MONTI MOMMIO into the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the region of Liguria. GIOVACAVALLO VERRUCOLA GENICCIOLA FIVIZZANO TERRAROSSA OLIVOLA MONTEDIVALLI PODENZANA CASTIGLIONCELLO For more information visit the website on Luingiana: AULLA PALLERONE GRAGNOLA www.terredilunigiana.com BIBOLA CASOLA IN LUNIGIANA CAPRIGLIOLA CODIPONTE UGLIANCALDO PONZANELLO VIANO EQUI TERME GIUCANO PULICA MARCIASO LA SPEZIA FOSDINOVO CARRARA MASSA MONTIGNOSO 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 Malaspina family on an important crossroads of the and Saint Peter’s Church Via Francigena. 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 altars, 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