Sarzana…
Sarzana is a small historic town in the province of La Spezia, characterized by two fortresses (Fortress Firmafede and Castruccio Castracani), sixteenth-century historical palaces and, because of the presence of the bishops, also by an important religious heritage. It owes its fortune to its strategic location, which has always been a key crossroads of important communication routes between Liguria, Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Nowadays, vibrant and full of stores, bars and restaurants, Sarzana is known for its many events including the national antiques exhibition, the “Soffitta della Strada” and the “Festival della Mente”, an event of national importance, at which, intellectuals and cultural personalities come to attend popular conferences.
AND SURROUNDINGS.
The varieties of cultural and landscape sites surrounding Sarzana are countless; you can go from the sea to the mountains in a very short space of time. Rugged and rocky or sandy sea coasts, ancient villages overlooking the sea, medieval villages, castles, on promontories, countless archaeological sites, churches and small parishes.
The nature of the places is fascinating.
For outdoor lovers, our areas offer many MTB or motorcycle trails.
For hiking, biking and horseback riding lovers there are countless trails through the capes on the coasts and mountains including the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri.
For sea lovers, in addition to the pleasure of the beaches, it is possible to rent kayaks, dinghies, jet skis, sailboats, and yachts.
Canoeing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, and water skiing are practiced. Many venues are equipped to practice water aerobics, aqua fitness, and hydrobikes.
Sarzana also offers a good location for reaching the ski resorts of Abetone and Cerreto.
The Apuan Alps dominate the backdrop of the landscape, tall and imposing with the Marble Quarries.
The most interesting to visit is the famous Michelangelo Quarry, in the Fantiscritti and Colonnata basins, where Michelangelo himself, the great sculptor chose marble for his artworks.
Val di Vara, Val di Magra, Lunigiana and Garfagnana offer a magnificent tour of ancient castles and fortresses.
It is easy to guess that given the large number of places to visit, places by the sea, mountains, villages, towns, archaeological sites or at the high value of landscape/cultural, the list provided here is purely representative.
For more information, the staff of the farmhouse Il Monticello is at your complete service.
You can easily visit each place listed in one day (starting from Sarzana).
You can easily visit each place listed in one day (starting from Sarzana).
FROM 5 TO 15 km
Sea and villages: Marinella, Fiumaretta, Bocca di Magra, Lerici, San Terenzo, Tellaro.
Villages and castles: Sarzana (the two fortresses constitute an admirable example of Italian Renaissance military architecture), Montemarcello, Fosdinovo, Nicola di Ortonovo, Castelnuovo Magra, Caprigliola.
Archaeological sites: The excavations and museum of “LUNI ANTICA”, the largest Roman-era archaeological area in northern Italy, the archaeological site of the Megaliths of San Lorenzo (Lerici) known for the golden butterfly phenomenon, the Roman villas of Bocca di Magra and Varignano, Ligurian necropolis of Ameglia.
FROM 15 TO 50 km
Sea and villages: Portovenere and Palmaria Island and The Cinque Terre: Rio Maggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso (for which train or boats are recommended), Sestri Levante, Portofino, Marina di Carrara, Marina di Massa, Versilia.
Villages and castles: The Lunigiana: Pontremoli, Filattiera, Fivizzano, Sorano, Villafranca in Lunigiana. The round villages of the Val di Vara: Riccò del Golfo, Brugnato, Beverino, Varese Ligure.
Castles and Fortresses: Aulla, Bagnone, Casola, Comano, Licciana Nardi, Podenzana, Tresana, Cavanella Vara, Madrignano, Calice al Cornoviglio, Bastia, Pontremoli, Equi, Malgrate, Podenzana, Castiglione del Terziere, Lerici, Fosdinovo, Massa, La Spezia, Portovenere, Varese Ligure.
Cities: Carrara, Pietrasanta (art center with numerous galleries and workshops), Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio and Portofino, Sestri Levante, Chiavari.
