マッサカッラーラの洞窟・トップ20

A very easy and pleasant ride. Much of the route follows secondary roads with very little traffic. Splendid views of Fosdinovo Castle, the mouth of the Magra River, and the Bay of La Spezia.

Aula is a fundamental hub of the Via Francigena, it was tormented by the bombings of the Second World War, causing the almost total destruction of its historic center, of which very few vestiges remain. It is located a few kilometers from the border with Liguria, on a narrow strip of land at the confluence of the Magra river and the Aulella stream, a decisive place for the civil and religious life of the entire area before the year 1000. Aulla in that period was already a small village and its importance was linked precisely to its central position along the Via Francigena, both as a pilgrimage road and as a commercial artery. The center of the town had an important role in defending the roads that led from the Lucca area and Liguria towards the Cisa Pass.

The Brunella Fortress owes its name to the hill on which it was built in the mid-16th century. The fort is a typical example of Renaissance military architecture, designed to defend against firearm attacks. It is an almost square construction with large polygonal struts. What is certain is that the complex represents the most powerful military work in Lunigiana and its strategic position allowed it, in the past, to control all the main routes in the area and the arrivals from the Apennine passes.

Medieval Castle of 1351. The fortification, which controlled the most important communication routes coming from the Apennines, Cisa and Garfagnana, developed in the 14th century (but its origins are probably older) and on its tower, 25 meters high and crowned by a corbeled patrol embossment, the flag of the Malaspina marquises flew until the 17th century. In addition to performing defensive functions, the castle became a noble residence in 1641, when the central body was transformed into a palace, incorporating the round tower. Despite this, the appearance of Malgrate is that of a classic medieval fortress: the main body is made up of the keep, located on the short side of the rectangular feudal palace and surrounded by walls, equipped with Guelph battlements, slopes and a patrol walkway that seems to date back to the 14th century.

The Piagnaro Castle is a fortress built in a strategic point to protect the Apennine passes and around which the first medieval nucleus was formed, built around the year 1000. For centuries it has been an integral part of the city's defensive system. In its thousand-year history it has undergone numerous destructions and subsequent reconstructions that have brought it to its current appearance. The Castle maintained its military function until the end of the 18th century. Its name derives from the so-called piagne, the gray sandstone slabs used in Lunigiana to cover the roofs of buildings, including that of the castle.

The hike up to the castle is worth it. Great views!

The construction of the castle probably dates back to the 14th century, when it was erected as a simple quadrangular fortification, entirely in stone with mortar joints. During the 15th century, the structure was expanded with the addition of two cylindrical towers placed diagonally at opposite corners, equipped with slits for firearms, evidence of the evolution of the defensive techniques of the time. The Castle of Villa di Tresana was part of the vast defensive system of the Malaspina, a powerful noble family that dominated Lunigiana. Located along the Via Francigena, the castle had a strategic function in controlling the communication routes and offered hospitality to pilgrims and travellers in transit. Over the centuries, the castle underwent various vicissitudes. In the 17th century it came under the influence of the Medici, while remaining under the control of the Malaspina. Subsequently, it was used as an agricultural building and fell into a state of abandonment. Only recently has it been the subject of careful restoration, which has preserved its original structure and restored its ancient splendor. Currently, the Castle of Villa di Tresana is a private property and is not open to the public. However, it is possible to admire it from the outside, especially during the autumn, when the climbing ivy that covers it takes on suggestive colors, giving the castle a fairy-tale appearance.

The Palazzo Ducale is an important monument in Massa, located in Piazza Aranci. It was built in the mid-16th century according to the wishes of Prince Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina. Hence it is also called Palazzo Cybo-Malaspina. The impressive façade overlooking the square offers a color scheme of red and white (in the marble and stucco). Beyond the main entrance opens a large courtyard, surrounded by columns, staircases, loggias and marble portals. At the far end is a nymphaeum with a statue of Neptune riding the waves.