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 Caveau del Teatro is at the centre of this small pearl of Lunigiana, facing the baroque work-of-art of the Church of Nostra Donna and of 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.

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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.

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Mulazzo

Borgo di origine bizantina che divenne capitale dei Malaspina dello Spino Secco.
Da vedere: Torre ottagonale, detta "di Dante", poiché in essa soggiornò, ospite dei Malaspina, Dante Alighieri, resti del castello malaspiniano (sec. XIII-XV), imponenti arcate dell'antico acquedotto (sec. XV); Centro Studi Alessandro Malaspina, navigatore del '700 (info 0187 439712). Nei dintorni: sulla strada per Gavedo, sede di un castello del '500, si può visitare l'antica chiesa romanica di S. Martino (Sec. VIII); Montereggio: caratteristico paese immerso nei castagni e patria dei librai erranti; il Monastero medievale della Madonna del Monte con icona mariana del trecento.

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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 +39 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).

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Fivizzano

Aristocratic town in the east of Lunigiana. After the domain of the Malaspina it became part of the Florentine Republic. To visit: the ancient Medici walls, the historical centre with its main square and Medici fountain, the Oratory of S. Carlo (seventeenth century), fine example of baroque architecture, Church of Saints Jacopo and Antonio (fourteenth century): medieval font representing the religious symbol of the Cavalieri del Tau, the Convent of S. Agostino (fourteenth century); Convent of Carmine. In the outskirts: castle and hamlet of Verrucola; Frignoli Botanical Garden (for information contact 0585 949688); Parish Church of S. Paolo: Parish Church of Vendaso (dating from the eighth to the twelfth century); Gragnola and the Castle of the Aquila; Arlia and its ancient mill (for information contact +39 0187 422598).
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.

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Licciana Nardi

Questo territorio permette di ammirare un sistema omogeneo di castelli, pievi, case torri e borghi murati, il reticolo fortificato di controllo voluto dai Malaspina. Il borgo, ricco di portali decorati, si sviluppa lungo la strada principale chiusa dal castello palazzo Malaspina Nei dintorni: I castelli di Monti (XIII) e di Bastia (XV), Terrarossa (XVI); la pieve di Venelia.

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Equi Terme

Borgo antico incastonato sullo sfondo delle Alpi Apuane. Da visitare: Grotte di Equi (0585 942122) itinerario speleologico, stabilimento termale (0585 949300) con pregiate acque solfuree; Parco Naturale Regionale delle Apuane (punto accoglienza 0585 97544): attraversando il Solco di Equi ci si immerge nell'antica via del Marmo. Nei dintorni: Vinca con il suo famoso pane.

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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.

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La Spezia

The town of La Spezia is almost on the border between Liguria and Tuscany in the region that historically belonged to the ancient Roman city of Luni, Lunigiana. The city, once known only to be dell'Arsenale Military headquarters, is an ideal starting point for visiting the beautiful Cinque Terre and the charming villages of Lerici and Porto Venere, presents itself as a renowned polo museum and an important centre for boat recreational.

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Le Cinque Terre

Form one of the least contaminated and wide Mediterranean areas in Liguria, a kingdom full of nature and wild perfumes, preserved and cherished to this day. Visiting the Cinque Terre means visiting five different villages each suspended among land and sea, clung to overhanging cliffs and surrounded by green hills. Here you can acknowledge the history of its population, who for centuries struggled to live and work in such a difficult land. Also you can taste the particular wines and local products, fruit of such hard work.