サントステファノディマグラ周辺のおすすめ交通量の少ないサイクリングルート

When we passed by 🚴🏻‍♂️, work in progress 🚧 made access impossible 🚳.

The Citadel, also known as the Sarzana Fortress or Firmafede Fortress, was the first fortification in Sarzana, built in the 13th century. It was owned by the lord Castruccio Castracani, who made numerous significant modifications to its defenses. After its destruction by Florence in 1487, it was rebuilt on the orders of Lorenzo de' Medici. In 1494, the Republic of Genoa, having regained possession of Sarzana, completed work on the Citadel. The fortress is used as a venue for cultural events and exhibitions and also houses the Fortress Museum, an interactive exhibit that traces the history of Sarzana and the Lunigiana region.

It was built on the area where the parish church of San Basilio once stood, starting in 1204. Construction work ended in 1474 with the completion of the upper part of the façade by Leonardo Riccomanni. Following the completion of the work, in 1735 the statues of Saint Eutychiano in the centre, of Sergius IV on the left and of Nicholas V on the right were placed on the façade. The building, which represents the sum of all the historical-artistic production of Sarzana and the Magra Valley, has been elevated to a minor basilica. It preserves, among other works, the crucifix by Mastro Gugliermo (1138), the first dated example of a painted cross in the history of art.

The building of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, erected on the area occupied by the previous parish church of San Basilio, is consequent to the transfer of the bishop's seat from Luni to Sarzana in 1204. È assai probabile che i lavori siano effettivamente iniziati solo alla fine del secolo XIII. In 1355, the lower part of the façade was completed (as recalled by the inscription engraved on the marble architrave of the portal), while in 1474 Lorenzo Riccomanni da Pietrasanta created the rose window that adorns the upper part. The construction of the bell tower also dates back to the 15th century, while between the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the two side bodies flanking the marble façade were built to open the six internal chapels. Also dating back to the 18th century are the statues placed at the crowning of the building depicting three important exponents of the Lunigiana church: Pope Sergius IV, St. Eutichiano and Nicholas V. The interior with three wide naves divided by octagonal pillars and covered by a valuable wooden coffered ceiling, created in 1670 by Pietro Giambelli from Pisa, preserves important testimonies of art and faith: among them, the Reliquary of the Precious Blood of Christ and the painted Cross by Mastro Guglielmo, a cornerstone of Italian Romanesque painting, signed and dated 1138. (c) https://visitsarzana.it/cathedral-santa-maria-assunta/

Passo Alpicella is located at 710m above sea level and is part of the 42nd stage of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. It is located on the watershed ridge between Val di Vara and Valle del Magra, offering open views that on clear days reach the Apuan Alps and the Gulf of Poets.

The dirt road that connects the Alpicella Pass to the Valico dei Solini follows the ridge that separates the Val di Vara from the Valle del Magra, offering truly suggestive views on both sides. The surface is mostly hard and compact, and does not present any particular cycling problems. Only in some short sections do you encounter loose sections, with stones that are also quite large, but still easily surmountable without significant technical difficulties. The difference in height is limited, which makes this route pleasant and rideable in both directions.

The dirt road that connects the hamlet of Bagatello to Valico dei Solini follows the route of the 43rd stage of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri (Ceparana–Valico dei Solini) and also partly coincides with a segment of the Lunigiana Gravel. The route is easy to ride: the surface is largely compact and stable, ideal for gravel and MTB. Some short sections have a slightly more unstable surface, with loose gravel or uneven terrain, but overall the ride is smooth and pleasant, even uphill. The natural setting is very suggestive, with wooded sections and open views towards the Val di Vara.

Nestled on a hilltop overlooking the lower Val di Magra, Bolano is a small village in the province of La Spezia, on the border between Liguria and Tuscany. Its medieval origins can still be felt as you stroll through the stone alleys and the houses in a compact sequence, with panoramic views that range to the mouth of the Magra and, on clear days, to the Apuan Alps. The historic center, kept intact in its medieval urban layout, has a slightly triangular shape and opened at the vertices with three defensive gates: Porta Castello, Porta Stazon and Porta Chilosi (ancient Porta Fontana), which tell the story of the fortified past of the village. Among the main monuments, the following stand out: - Piazza Castello, the civic heart of the town and home to the town hall: a small square, framed by historic buildings, from which the narrow streets branch off towards the Church and the gates. - The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, the ancient Romanesque parish church enlarged in Baroque style in the 18th century, with frescoes, Serassi organ and Romanesque-Gothic bell tower. - The Oratory of Saints Antonio and Rocco, a 16th-century convent complex with a valuable 18th-century Ligurian organ and paintings by Simone Barabino and Stefano Lemmi. - The remains of the ancient medieval castle (of the Malaspina) in the “Poggio”, between walls and towers visible close to the narrow streets. I stopped in Bolano almost by chance, during my bike ride, and the discovery of Piazza Castello, so intimate and symbolic of the village, immediately struck me. Crossing the ancient medieval gates, and walking “behind the walls”, added a feeling of traveling through time.