Lunigiana is an area which consists mainly of the province of Massa-Carrara, the northern part of the region of Tuscany, and partly of the province of La Spezia in the south of the region of Liguria.
The southwest of Lunigiana borders the Tyrrhenean Sea. In the southeast Lunigiana is bordered by the Apuan Alps.
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| Apuan Alps |
Here you can visit the Apuan Alps Geopark. The park’s flora mainly consists of oak and mixed wooded areas which give way to Mediterranean scrub on the coastal slopes. The park’s fauna is also varied, the symbol of the park is the coral crab. There is a rich bird life too, with species such as the royal eagle and the red partridge. In short, both the place and the wildlife are quite unique. Don’t miss the Pietro Pellegrini Botanical Gardens, the Marmitte dei Giganti, Mount Forato, the Oasi Lipu and the more than 300 quarries which bear witness to a past when Apuan rocks were heavily used in art and building.
In western Lunigiana you can visit the city of La Spezia and beyond La Spezia the world famous Unesco World Heritage site Cinque Terre composed by the five coast villages Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
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| Cinque Terre |
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| Aulla |
The main towns of Tuscan Lunigiana are Aulla, Montignoso, Fivizzano and Pontremoli, each with 8.000-11.000 inhabitants.
In the Middle Ages there were 160 castles in Lunigiana, only thirty of which are now still in a good state of preservation The most important castles in Lunigiana are La Verrucola, the famous castle of Fivizzano formerly inhabited by the late artist Pietro Cascella, the castle of the Piagnaro in Pontremoli and the Rocca of Villafranca.
In the Middle Ages there were 160 castles in Lunigiana, only thirty of which are now still in a good state of preservation The most important castles in Lunigiana are La Verrucola, the famous castle of Fivizzano formerly inhabited by the late artist Pietro Cascella, the castle of the Piagnaro in Pontremoli and the Rocca of Villafranca.
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| La Verrucola, Fivizzano |
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| Villafranca in Lunigiana |
To visit Lunigiana you can take the highway inland from Carrara towards Villafranca Lunigiana and Pontremoli. This highway ends up in Parma. The Ethnographic Museum of the Lunigiana in Villafranca conserves evidence of the farming community that had remained unchanged for centuries. On your way you can make an escape to Fivizzano. It is worth seeing the water-powered windmill in Arlia-Fivizzano which has been entirely restored. The mill is located on the right bank of the Rosaro river, not far from the old city of Arlia. It has three millstones (for chestnuts, wheat and corn) and in the building, used as a store, it is now possible to see an exhibition of the mills of Lunigiana. In Lunigiana you can taste excellent local speicalties and the traditional “testaroli” are not to be missed.
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| Viano in Fivizzano |
Every year at the end of July beginning of August the Lunatica Festival features a rich calendar of events all over the Lunigiana territory, from dance and theatre shows to music performances. This festival is a great opportunity to explore this lesser-known area, rich in culture, tradition and culinary treasures, a territory of historic hamlets, medieval piazzas, castles and churches.
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