Montalcino

Montalcino is a 5,920 inhabitants town not far from Monte Amiata, in the southern part of Tuscany, Italy. It's part of the province of Siena and it's the largest city in Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage area because of its beautiful and picturesque towns, its landscapes and one of the most famouse Italian wines, brunello di Montalcino.

How do I arrive to Montalcino?

  Montalcino isn't very well connected with other destinations in Tuscany. 

• Bus: there are 6 daily buses from and to Siena (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes). There are 3-4 daily buses to Castelnuovo dell'Abate (aprox. 15 minutes) to reach Sant'Atimo Abbey. Two daily buses reach Pienza from Siena (aprox. 1 hour 10 minutes) and 9 go to Montepulciano (aprox. 20 minutes).
• Car: if you rented a car it can be reached from Montalcino many places just like San Quirico d'Orcia (aprox. 15 minutes), Castiglione d'Orcia (aprox. 30 minutes), Pienza (aprox. 30 minutes), Montepulciano (aprox. 45 minutes), Radicofani (aprox. 45 minutes), Siena (aprox. 50 minutes) or Grosseto (aprox. 1 hour).

History

The hill of Montalcino has probably been settled since Etruscan times but it's first mentioned in the 9th century, with a church associated with the nearby Abbey of Sant'Antimo. The population grew in the 10th century and during medieval times Montalcino became known for its tanneries, its shoes and other leather goods. During the late Middle Ages it was an independent commune with considerable importance (owing to its location on the old Via Francigena) but increasingly came under the sway of Siena, being its satellite since the Battle of Montaperti (1260). Montalcino was deeply involved and affected by the conflicts in between Siena and Florence in the 14th and 15th centuries and was also caught up in the internecine wars between the Ghibellines (supporters of the Holy Roman Empire) and the Guelphs (supporters of the Papacy). Once Siena had been conquered by Florence under the rule of the Medici family in 1555, Montalcino held out for almost four years (being known as the Republic of Siena in Montalcino) but ultimately fell to the Florentines. Montalcino was under Florence's control until the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was amalgamated into a united Italy in 1861. Since then there was a gradual economic decline, recently reversed by economic growth due to the increasing popularity of the town's famous wine (growning from only 11 producers in the 1960s to more than 200 today, awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, DOCG, status). 
 

What can I visit in Montalcino?

This town is very picturesque with its mixture of Medieval heritage, enotecas and landscape full of vineyards. Moreover it's a perfect place to begin the visit to Val d'Orcia.

These are Montalcino's main attractions:

• Montalcino Fortress (9-20 from Apr to Oct; 10-18 from Nov to Mar; 4€/ 2€  adults/ reduced): fortress first built in the 14th century and enlarged by Medici family in the highest point of Montalcino. From its walls there are nice views of the town and its surrounding area. There's a ticket that includes the entrance to Montalcino Fortress and to Civic and Diocesan Museum of Montalcino (6€/ 4.50€  adults/ reduced).
  
• Sant'Egidio Church: 14th century church with a Romanesque stone façade and, above the eye, the Sienese balzana. It was the official church of the Republic of Siena in Montalcino.
  
• Civic and Diocesan Museum of Montalcino (10-13 and 14-17:30 Tue-Sun; 4.50€/ 3€  adults/ reduced): museum placed in the former Convent of Sant'Agostino that has an interesting collection of sacred art. Some of its highlights are Crocifisso di Sant'Antimo, a tryptic by Duccio di Buoninsegna, a Madonna and kid by Simone Martini, Incoronazione della Vergine by Bartolo di Fredi and works by other artists like Lorenzetti brothers, Giovanni di Paolo or Sano di Pietro. 
• Montalcino Cathedral: Neoclassical duomo (first built in the 14th century and demolished in the 19th century) that was formerly the seat of the bishops of Montalcino (it has been a co-cathedral in the Archdiocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino since 1986). Despite the destruction of the old cathedral it keeps many of its works of art like the painting Immaculate Conception with Jesus and God the Father by Francesco Vanni or The Assumption of the Virgin with angels and with Saints Hippolytus and Cyprian by Francesco Nasini.
• Church of Madonna del Soccorso: church was erected across the centuries in multiple styles (including a Renaissance layout, Baroque interiors and a Neoclassical façade), first built in 1330.
  The bell-tower was added in 1625 and its façade wasn't completed till the early 19th-century. Some of its nicest works are Crucifixion by Francesco Vanni and a Virgin surrounded by Angelic musicians with Saints Sebastian and Roch by Vicenzo da San Gimignano.
  
• Going 11 km south from Montalcino, in Castelnuovo dell'Abate (231 inhabitants), it can be found the beautiful Sant'Antimo Abbey (10-13 and 15-19 from May to Sep; 10-13 and 15-17 from Oct to Apr; free), Romanesque abbey that is said to have been first founded by Charlemagne in 781. Its exterior is quite austere (although has sculptures that represent fantastic beasts) but its interior is much more complete. It has very surprising decoration in the capital of the columns (the most spectacular one is the capital with Daniel and the Lions) and other representations like the or the 13th century Madonna con il Bambino e gli Evangelisti. The abbey is considered one of the top examples of Tuscan Romanesque style.
  

Sant'Antimo Abbey

Views from Montalcino Fortress

 

Chapel of Madonna di Vitaleta

Montalcino is a very good point to start the visit to UNESCO World Heritage site of Val d'Orcia. Driving 15 km east from Montalcino there's the small town of San Quirico d'Orcia (2,628 inhabitants). It has interesting churches like St. Quirico Collegiate Church, 12th century church with a main portal in Lombard style and a side portal attributedd to Giovanni Pisano; the Romanesque church of St. Biagio a Vignoni Church or the cute Chapel of Madonna di Vitaleta, located in the middle of the countryside. But the main sightseeing point here is Leonini Gardens, an example of Italian garden that dates back to 1581 and includes the 1688 sculpture of Cosimo De Medici. On the way south, 6.5 km far, it can be found Bagno Vignoni (30 inhabitants), a small village with a curious square, Piazza delle sorgenti, that has a bathing pool in which thermal water is collected. Continuing south during 10 km there's Castiglione d'Orcia (2,308 inhabitants). Here it can be visited two castles: Rocca Aldobrandesca and Tintinnano Castle (10:30-13:30 and 14:30-18:30;), a medieval fortified tower with great views of the Val d'Orcia territory that was part of the struggle between the Salimbeni and the Republic of Siena and again contended between Siena and Florence in the 16th century.

Calcium carbonate deposits at Bagni di San Filippo

It's also nice to have a walk at the main square (Piazza del Vecchietta) and get into Sts. Stefano e Degna Church, Sienese Renaissance style church built in the 16th century that has some nice works of art like Madonna with Child by Simone Martini and a Madonna with Child by Pietro Lorenzetti. keeping south (17 km from Castiglione d'Orcia) it can be visited Bagni San Filippo (91 inhabitants), where finding small hot spring containing calcium carbonate deposits, which form white concretions and waterfalls. The last stop in this trip would be Radicofani (1,070 inhabitants), 40 km south from Montalcino. Its main sightseeing point is Radicofani Fortress (10-20 from Apr to Oct; Sat-Sun from Nov to Mar), a castle of Carolingian origin (known as the Castle of Ghino di Tacco) that was restored after the conquest from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and has two lines of walls (the external one in pentagonal shape while the inner one is triangular). Other things to do here are visiting St. Pietro Apostolo Church, Romanesque church with works by Andrea della Robbia, Benedetto Buglioni and Santi Buglioni; and St. Agata Church, church with a precious Madonna with Saints by Andrea della Robbia at the high altar.

Piazza Pio II

But withount any doubt, in case the visitor can choose only one of the rest of villages and small towns in Val d'Orcia, they should choose Pienza (2,091 inhabitants). Having been placed on UNESCO World Heritage list this small town is widely regarded as the touchstone of Renaissance urbanism thanks to pope Pius II. He was born here and once he became pope, he rebuilt the entire village as an ideal Renaissance town (renaming it from Corsignano to Pienza, city of Pius). It's completely worthy to get lost on its streets and enjoying its architecture. The center of Pienza is Piazza Pio II, wonderful square designed by Bernardo Rossellino where the main sightseeing points of Pienza are placed. In that square is located Pienza Cathedral (8:30-13 and 14:15-18:30; free), Renaissance style duomo comissioned by pope Pius II (he resulted so satisfied with the result that in 1462 he wrote a papal bull prohibiting doing any change on it). Its interior has an interesting mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles, five altar paintings from the Sienese School and also has an excellente marble tabernacle by Bernardo Rosellino that has a relic of St. Andrew. In the same square it's located Piccolomini Palace (10-18:30 Tu-Sun from May to Sep; 10-16:30 Tue-Sun from Oct to Nov and from Mar to Apr; 7€/ 5€  adults/ reduced), a palazzo that was home of pope Pius II, considered a masterpiece of Bernardo Rossellino, with a nice yard, impressing stairs and former pope rooms (full of furniture from Pius' times) and great views from the last floor. Another interesting sight is Pienza Diocesan Museum (10:30-13:30 and 14:30-18 Wed-Mon from May to Sep; 10-16 Sa-Sun from Oct to Apr; 4.50€/ 3€  adults/ reduced), museum placed at Palazzo Borgia (palace given to cardinal Rodrigo de Borja, future pope Alexander VI, who reformed it) with church paintings from the 12th to 17th centuries. There are other churches in Pienza that are worth to be seen like Corsignano Church (9-18 from May to Sep; 10-18 from Oct to Apr), 10th century Romanesque church with a curious circle-shape bell tower and that keeps the baptismal font where pope Pius II was baptised; or the Gothic style one, St. Francesco Church.

Where can I eat in Montalcino?

 

Brunello di Montalcino

There are many excellent places to eat in Montalcino; some of the cheapest are the trattoria L'Angelo (Via Ricasoli 9) or the Caffè Fiaschetteria Italiana 1888 (Piazza del Popolo 6). There are options for a higher prize like enoteca Osteria Osticcio (Via Giacomo Matteotti 23), Drogheria Franci (Piazzale Fortezza 5) or the restaurant Ristorante di Poggio Antico (Poggio Antico). Going 10 km from Montalcino (in Sant'Angelo in Colle) there's a very good trattoria, Il Leccio (Costa Castellare). 

Once in Pienza, at Piazza Pio II, there are some nice bars and cafes like Bar Il Casello (Via del Casello 3) or La Terrazza del Chiostro (Corso il Rossellino 26). In case of wanting to eat in Pienza there are cheap restaurants like the osteria Sette di Vino (Piazza di Spagna 1) and the pizzeria Pummarò (Piazza Martiri della Liberta 2); other options with higher prizes are La Bandita Townhouse (Corso il Rossellino 111), trattoria Latte di Luna (Via San Carlo 2-4) and the restaurant La Terrazza del Chiostro (Corso il Rossellino 26).

The area of Montalcino is a very good choice to get deeper into the wine culture of Tuscany and know one of its most famous ones (protected with DOCG), brunello di Montalcino. Visiting a winery can be a good choice to learn about this world wide known wine and one of the most recommended one is Poggio Antico.

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Posted in: Europe,Italy,Tuscany

Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park

Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park (also know as Parco nazionale dell'Appennino Tosco-Emiliano in Italian) is a 227.9 km² park located in the western part of the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna in Italy, in the provinces of Massa-Carrara, Lucca, Reggio Emilia and Parma. The National Park was created in 2010.

        

How do I arrive to Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park?

The National Park can be easily reached from both Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna because it's located among them.

• Train: one of the most important towns is Pontremoli, that can be arrived from Villafranca-Bagnone (aprox. 10 minutes), La Spezia (aprox. 45 minutes), Sarzana (aprox. 55 minutes), Carrara (aprox. 1 hour), Massa (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes), Parma (aprox. 1 hour 20 minutes). Castelnuovo de Garfagnana can be reached from Barga-Gallicano (aprox. 15 minutes), Aulla Lunigiana (aprox. 50 minutes), Lucca (aprox. 1 hour 5 minutes) or Pisa (aprox. 1 hour 30 minutes).
• Bus: there are some from the main towns to the main sightseeing places in the national park.
• Car: in case having a car Pontremoli can be arrived from Villafranca in Lunigiana (aprox. 15 minutes), Sarzana (aprox. 30 minutes), La Spezia (aprox. 35 minutes), Comano and Fivizzano (aprox. 40 minutes), Carrara and Massa (aprox. 50 minutes), Corniglio (aprox. 1 hour 5 minutes), Parma (aprox. 1 hour 10 minutes) and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (aprox. 1 hour 40 minutes). Castelnuovo de Garfagnana can be reached from Barga (aprox. 15 minutes), Aulla Lunigiana (aprox. 50 minutes), Lucca (aprox. 55 minutes), Montecatini Terme (aprox. 1 hour 5 minutes), Pisa (aprox. 1 hour 10 minutes) or Pistoia (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes). Castelnovo ne' Monti can be arrived from Cervarezza Terme (aprox. 15 minutes), Sassuolo (aprox. 50 minutes), Monchio delle Corti and Reggio Emilia (aprox. 55 minutes), Modena (aprox. 1 hour 10 minutes) or Parma and Corniglio (aprox. 1 hour 15 minutes).

 Once in the Park the best ways to move around the park are the car, bike or simply hiking.  

History

Ligurians were the first people to settle in the region because they were shepherds that lived off the mountainous terrain. In 187 BC the Romans were able to conquer the land between Parma and Lucca and it was already a pivotal region due to its location between the sea and Po Valley (making it easier to be connected to the rest of Europe and their empire) and formed the Port of Luni. The collapse of the ancient Romans sparked the age of diminishing populations, invasion and spiritual pilgrimages (existing Roman roads became passageways for pilgrims to Rome or Jerusalem, specially Via Francigena). During the reign of Matilde of Canossa the present-day territories of the Park became the heart of her kingdom (she ruled from 1076 to 1115 over the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany regions), building castles, churches and hostels for travelers. Italy's territories were very unstable from the 12th to 19th centuries because most of rulers wanted to control the roads to Rome. As a result, the land was split in several small duchys and fiefs, whose rulers could abruptly change from one year to another. When Italy became unified (1861), the region of the Park was under one country for the first time in centuries but population started to grow and poverty expanded, with many families forced to flee in search of a better life. In the first part of WW2 its mountains provided cover and became a safe place for the Italian people to flee but in 1943, the establishment of a German defensive line (the Gothic Line) divided the Park and Italy into two sides, resulting in a two-year civil war where the resistance of Nazi Germany and Italian Social Republic fought the Allied forces and Partisans. After the war the people living here emigrated to larger cities such as Parma, Milan and Rome. Villages and lands were abandoned as there was nothing left for the people to live on. The Park was granted the title of a national park in 2001 because of its location in the Apennine Mountains, the diverse wildlife that resides and the unique history and culture that remains in this area and in 2015 it was awarded the recognition of being a MaB UNESCO site.

What can I visit in Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park?

Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park is a quite under the radar destination. Now it will be explained what to do in the park according to the town or village where they are or the nearest one:    

• 

  Corniglio Castle
  

  Corniglio (Cornì in Emilian): 1,865 inhabitants town in the province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna, in the western part of the National Park. The town has some murals painted in the 1960s by the local painter Walter Madoi, with portraits of local people but also of famous people.

  • Corniglio Castle: castle that was built in the 13th century and since the 14th century belonged to the Rossi family (reinforced and renovated by Filippo Maria Rossi). It was later owned by the Dukes of Milan and finally of the Dukes of Parma until it was sold to the municipality of Corniglio in 1820. Currently it's used as municipal office and as a hostel too.
  • Outside the town of Corniglio there are the Ruins of Bosco di Corniglio Castle,
     a 15th century castle that became the scene of the struggles between the Terzi and Fieschi families who fought over the territory in the 15th and 16th century, left in a state of neglect afterwards and falling into disrepair (only the remains of the tower and some parts of the perimeter wall are currently visible).
    

    

    Santo Lake
    

  • In the municipality of Corniglio are located Santo Lake and I Lagoni Lakes. The former is a lake of glacial origin (rich in fish fauna) that is the largest natural lake in the northern Apennines and is located 1,507 m high; while the latter are two lakes located 1,355 m high. I Lagoni Lakes, together with the smaller takes Scuro Lake and Bicchiere Lake can be visited by taking the route Val Parma-Anello dai Lagoni Trail (7 km).
    
• In the way that connects Corniglio with Pontremoli it can be found some very nice places to stop. One of them is the nice Pracchiola Waterfall.

  

  Pontremoli
  

  
  
• Pontremoli (Pontrémal in Emilian): 7,357 inhabitants town by river Magra in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, in the western part of the National Park. It's the heart of the area La Lunigiana, part of Via Francigena and it's thought to have been Apua, the most important town of the Ligurian tribe of the Apuani.
  
  • Piagnaro Castle (10-18:30 from Jun to Sep; 9:30-17:30 from Oct to May; 7€/ 4€/ free  adults/ retiree and kids under 14/ kids under 6): castle built around the year 1000 to watch over the road network that wound its way through these valleys. The complex is divided into two levels: the oldest is situated around the upper courtyard while the castle’s other core was built below and surrounds the larger courtyard.

    

    Museum of Lunigianesi Stele Statues
    

    From its upper part there are great views. The castle is also home of Museum of Lunigianesi Stele Statues, a museum that contains a number of Bronze Age stone sculptures (representing human figures) found in Lunigiana.
  • Pontremoli Co-Cathedral: 17th century cathedral designed by Alessandro Capra that from 1787 was the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Pontremoli and since 1988 it has been a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli. It has a Neo-Renaissance style façade erected in 1926 and the interior was frescoed by Francesco Natali with added stucco decoration.

    

    Pontremoli Co-Cathedral
    and Campanone
    

    The church has a 13th-century icon of the Madonna del Popolo and some nice paintings like Birth of the Virgin by Giandomenico Ferretti, Visitation by Vincenzo Meucci, Marriage of the Virgin by Giuseppe Peroni or Annunciation by Giuseppe Bottani. It can also be visited the Pontremoli Diocesan Museum (15:30-19 Sat-Sun) to discover some of the treasures of the cathedral and the whole diocese.
    
  • Campanone: tower of the former Cazzaguerra fortress' curtain wall commissioned by Castruccio Castracani in the 14th century to separate the factions of Guelphs and Ghibellines in different parts of the town. In 1578 the tower was transformed into a belltower and today it's the town's main symbol. 
  • Teatro dell’Accademia della Rosa: 18th century threater in Rococo style (one of the most typical examples in this style), commissioned by 25 noble families of Pontremoli.
    

    

    Church of Santissima Annunziata

  • Sts. Giovanni e Colombano Church: church first built in the 13th century whose interior features 18th century stuccoes by the Ticinese workshop of the Portugalli school and holds interesting artworks, including a bas-relief by Agostino di Duccio, a wooden choir by Luchino of Parma, the Ecstasy of Saint Francis by Gianbettino Cignaroli and a Crucifixion by Guido Reni.
    
  • In the entrance of Pontremoli there's the Church of Santissima Annunziata, majestic church from the 15th century when the Virgin Mary, painted on a newsstand, miraculously spoke to a child  in 1470. Inside it has a small temple with multicoloured marble decoration attributed to Andrea Sansovino and there's a lunnette by Luca Cambiaso, Adoration of the Magi and a beautiful statue of St. Augustine that has been attributed to Michelangelo.

• 

  Sorano Church
  

  In the way that connects Pontremoliand Villafranca in Lunigiana the visitor can stop at two very nice spots in the town of Filattiera (Faltéra in Emilian) with 2,243 inhabitants. One of them is Malaspina Castle in Filattiera, castello built by Malaspina family in the second half of the 14th century whose  interior has three large halls and is surrounded by a large garden. The other one is St. Giorgio Church, a 12th century church that contains a rare tombstone from 752 remembering the work of a Lombard bishop. Outside the village there's Sorano Church (9-12 and 15-19), a church that is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture, known since 1158, close to where stele statues were discovered (it used to be a settlement in the Bronze Age and also in Roman times). Close to Filattiera it can be discovered the cute Torrente Monia Waterfall and Debbia Mill.
  
• Villafranca in Lunigiana (Vilafranca in Emilian): 4,675 inhabitants town in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, in the western part of the National Park.    
  
  • Ethnographical Museum of Lunigiana (10-13 and 15-18 Sat-Sun; 2€): museum that introduces the visitor to the area of Lunigiana, admiring farming and shepherding equipment, artisan tools and objects of everyday, personal, domestic and devotional use. It's place in some former 14th century mills.
    

    

    Malgrate Castle
    

  • St. Francesco Church: church from the 16th century, that although it was extensively damaged during WW2, keeps the altarpieces from the Della Robbia school. It's also the burial place by the Malaspina family. 
  • Villafranca has several frazione that are home of picturesque places. One of them is the picturesque village of Virgoletta, home of Sts. Gervasio e Protasio Church (church rich in works of art and relics like the 17th century marble altar  and the marble polyptych placed in the main apse). Very close to it is located Castiglione del Terziere Castle, castle that dates back to the early Middle Ages that threatened to ruin around the 1960s, being restored respecting its architectural truth.

    

    Old Bridge of Lugagnano
    

    
    
  • On the way towards the mountains, before reaching Bagnone, there's Malgrate Castle, a castle first mentioned in 1351 (althought it already existed in the 12th century) and belonged to Malaspina family that is one remains one of the most attractive castles in Lunigiana.
    
• On the other side of the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna there's Monchio delle Corti (Monc' in Emilian), a 869 inhabitants village in the province of Parma (Emilia-Romagna). Here it can be visited some nice places like Sts. Lorenzo e Michele Church, 16th century church (first built in 1230)

  

  Monte Sillara
  

  with Baroque decoration and internally decorated with frescoes on the vaults and some works of art such as the Baptism of Christ attributed to Pier Antonio Bernabei; or Old Bridge of Lugagnano: picturesque bridge from 1602 built over the Cedra stream. In the municipality is can be done many routes but the most spectacular one is Val Parma: Monte Sillara-Prato Spilla Trail (15.3 km), a route that reaches Monte Sillara (1,861 m high, highest peak in the Appennino Parmense) going next to Ballano Lake and Verde Lake.
• Comano (Comàn in Emilian): 690 people village in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany.

  

  Comano Castle
  

  • Comano Castle: remains of a castle that dates back to the 9th century (first documented when the Marquis and Duke of Tuscany Adalberto I donated in 884 the castle to the Benedictine monastery of Aulla) and was important for its strategic position. It keeps a tower and ruins of the rest of the buildings.
  • St. Maria Assunta Church: Romanesque style church that was rebuilt in 1079 by the master builder Ottone, modified in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Not far from it, in the municipality of Licciana Nardi (4,870 inhabitants) can be found Bastia Castle, a fortress in Taverone Valley that occupied a strategic position in the point forced passage between the regions of Liguria, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. The castle is very well preserved and privately owned.
    

    

    Beata Vergine Maria
    dell'Adorazione Sanctuary
    

  • Going higher in the mountains it can be found Lagastrello Pass, place from where there are some routes that is located next to Paduli Lake.
    
• Fivizzano (Fiuzan in Emilian): 7,478 town in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany. It has a beautiful square, Piazza Medicea, that is the main witness of the Florentine presence in town with a fountain built by Cosimo III de 'Medici in 1683.
  • Beata Vergine Maria dell'Adorazione Sanctuary: church originally founded by the Hospitaller monks of St. Anthony in the 13th century. The façade is unfinished and has a marble coat of arms of the Medici while the interior is decorated with 17th century altars and in the choir there is a lunette with a Pietà and two panels by Pierfrancesco Foschi from the 16th century. Among its treasures there's a baptismal font of the 14th century.
  • Oratory of St. Carlo Borromeo: oratory was built in 1702 by the then governor of Lunigiana that has a beautiful Baroque stone portal.

    

    Verrucola Fortress
    

    Inside, the altar is decorated with stuccoes and in the center there's the tomb of Giovanni Fantoni.
  • Fivizzano Walls: remains of the walls erected in 1478 and demolished in 1835. Only three access gates remain in the town: Porta Sarzanese, Porta Modenese and Porta Nuova.
    
  • In the village of Verrucola it can be seen Verrucola Fortress, a 12th century fortress located overlooking the town of San Romano in Garfagnana, disputed for a long time between the Bacciano and the more powerful Gherardinghi, considered the most important medieval vestiges of the area. It was abandoned till 1980, being now in a good state of preservation.  
    

    

    Cerreto Lakes
    

  • In the way to Cervarezza Terme it can be found the St. Paolo In Vendaso Church, a Romanesque church first mentioned in 1148 that suffered important damages in the earthquakes of 1837 and 1920. One of its most interesting things are the capitals, characterized by flowers, spirals, animal figures and other decoration.
• In the way to Cervarezza Terme, just in the border between both regions, in Cerreto Pass, begins a route that connects this pass with Lagastrello Pass and Prato Spilla, Passo del Cerreto–Rifugio Sarzana al Monte Acuto–Diga del Lagastrello–Pratospilla Trail (15.6 km). Also here are located Cerreto Lakes (with its most spectacular one being Cerretano Lake), that can be discovered with the nice route Pezzalunga-Belfiore Trail (13.2 km).

• 

  Monte Ventasso
  

  On the other side of the park, in the province of Parma in Emilia-Romagna, it can be found Cervarezza Terme (Cervarèša in Emilian), a village with 672 inhabitants. In the tourist office there's a small museum, the Cork Museum fo Cercarezza Terme, that tells the historical local activity of cork processing. But the main reason to come here is because its proximity to Appennino Tosco-Emiliano Mab UNESCO Reserve. Here the visitor can enjoy beautiful nature, forests and valley by hiking some of its routes. Some of the most spectacular ones are Acquabona-Ventasso Trail (12.3 km) that goes from the village of Acquabona to Ventasso; Lago Calamone-Monte Ventasso Trail (7 km), route that connects the Calamone Lake with the mount and Monte Ventasso-Monte Pastorale Trail (6.5 km), with all this trails stopping at Monte Ventasso (1,727 m high).
  

  

  Pietra di Bismantova
  

• Castelnovo ne' Monti (Castelnōv di Mûnt in Emilian): 10,558 inhabitants town in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, considered the capital of the Appennino reggiano. Although it doesn't have many things to do, it offers one of the largest cuantity of accommodation.
  • Pietra di Bismantova: characteristic mountain that is 1041 m high that looks like a narrow plateau with steep walls, which stands isolated among the Apennine mountains and was mentioned in the Divine Comedy of  Dante Alighieri too. Here it's also located the Hermitage of Bismantova, a Benedictine hermitage from 17th century that already had a small church in 1422.

    

    Golfarone Waterfall

  • Close to Castenovo ne' Monti it can be reached Villa Minozzo (La Vìla da Mnòcc in Emilian), a 3,658 inhabitants town that has an interesting church Sts. Quirico e Giulitta Martiri Church, church with medieval origin that has been modified and enlarged with time that keeps a valuable Romanesque stone lunette. Here it can also be seen the Rocca di Minozzo, castle that is believed to have been built in the times of Matilda of Tuscany during the 11th century, used as residence of the head of the court and the garrison of soldiers allocated by the Bishop of Reggio.

    

    Pania di Corfino
    

    Since 1521 the castle has experienced extreme deterioration but now it's restored. Not far from it is the beautiful Golfarone Waterfall.
    
• In the border between Emilia-Romagna and the province of Lucca (Tuscany). Here there's the Pania di Corfino, a massif that is part of the Orecchiella State Reserve. It can be visited the Pania di Corfino Botanical Garden (2€), a garden whose aim is to preserve the indigenous flora of the Apennine Mountains, Garfagnana valley and Apuan Alps, containing about 400 varieties of plants. One of the most interesting trails of the area is Anello Monte Prado-Tetto della Toscana Trail (36.8 km).
• Castelnuovo di Garfagnana: inhabitants town in the province of Lucca (Tuscany) that is the most important town in the historical and geographical region of Gafagnana. Its old town is worth to be visited.

  

  Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
  Cathedral

  • Castelnuovo di Garfagnana Cathedral: duomo that was rebuilt in the15th century in Renaissance style (on a previous Romanesque nucleus) its late-Brunelleschian forms. The interior underwent profound changes in the Baroque period with the addition of nine altars. Some of its most important works of art are the Cristo nero from the 15th century, a 15th century century glazed terracotta from the workshop of Andrea della Robbia or a Madonna with Child and saints attributed to Il Salviatino.
  • Rocca Ariostesca: medieval castle, symbol of the town, from the 12th century that already existed as a small garrison in the 10th century and enlarged by Castruccio Castracani.Over time it was also used as a prison and today it's the seat of exhibitions and cultural events,hosting in its rooms numerous finds and testimonies of the prehistoric period in Garfagnana.

    

    Rocca Ariosteca
    

  • Alfieri Threater: threater inaugurated in 1860 (2nd largest in the province of Lucca) commissioned by a group of local elders (including Count Giovanni Carli and Antonio Vittoni) and designed by Count Carli himself.
  • Mont'Alfonso Fortress: fortress built by the Duchy of Ferrara, belonging to Este family, at the end of the 16th century to defend the border with the Republic of Lucca. In the 20th century Este familly sold it to the Scottish family Bechelli family and with time it suffered damages restored since 1980, when the Province of Lucca took over the structure. Today it's an important culture, research and education center.
    

    

    Fortezza Verrucole
    

  • Not far from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana the visitor can go to the Fortezza Verrucole Archeopark (), fortress with an strategic for controlling the Garfagnana valley built by the Gherardinghi family around the 11th-12th century to dominate the area they ruled over and to oppose the Bacciano family. It was later given to Spinetta Malaspina, a member of another one of the medieval power-holding families that dominated the border between Tuscany, Liguria and Emilia. During the conflict between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines the fortress was taken by the Florentines, by Lucca and finally by the Este family.  From here there are spectacular views of the Garfagnana valley and the Apuan Alps. 
    

    

    Barga Cathedral and town
    

• Barga: 9,931 inhabitants town on Serchio River in the province of Lucca (Tuscany), being one of the most important towns in Gafagnana and placed in the list of the most beautifull villages in Italy. It's known as the most Scottish town in Italy because at the end of the 19th century a number of Italians from the town emigrated to Scotland and there were many returnees.
  • Barga Cathedral: duomo whose construction started in the 11th century, and its main layout is an example of Romanesque architecture, although work continued into the 16th century. The temple has a castle-like bell tower and a façade block has a repeated cryptic inscription. It contains some 12th-13th century fonts, one with a carving depicting John the Baptist, a terracotta by the studio of Della Robbia and a 14th century image of the Madonna del Molino on a canvas depicting Barga circa 1500.
  • Church of the Santissimo Crocifisso: 15th century church whose construction began in the 13th century. The façade has two niches with marble statues and the interior is highly decorated in stucco and gilding and the choir has 15th century wooden carved stalls.
  • Church of the Santissima Annunziata: 16th century church built around a venerated icon of the Virgin. An altarpiece has a canvas depicting a Madonna and child and Saints by Baccio Ciarpi and in the choir are frescoes too.
  • There are nice views of the old town of Barga from Piazzale del Fosso.

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    Grotta del Vento
    

    Only 9 km far from Barga it can be visited the Grotta del Vento (guided tours; itinerary 1: 9€/ 7€  adults/ reduced; itinerary 2: 14€/ 11€  adults/ reduced; itinerary 3: 20€/ 16€  adults/ reduced;), caves that are considered one of the most interesting and unique in Europe thanks to an extraordinary variety of phenomena found inside, having stalagmites, stalactites, alabaster walls, small lakes encrusted with crystal, underwater streams and bizarre shapes carved out of the rock by years of erosion, making it a stunning place to visit. There are guided tours of 1 hour (itinerary 1), 2 hours (itinerary 2) and 3 hours (itinerary 3).

Palazzo Dei Capitani della Montagna

Continuing east from Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park, in the border between the provinces of Pistoia (Tuscany) and Modena (Emilia-Romagna), there are some very nice places to visit. Exploring the north of the province of Pistoia it can be found the village of Cutigliano (399 inhabitants), widely regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany and Italy. It's worth to get lost on its streets but there are also sightseeing points like Palazzo Dei Capitani Della Montagna, 14th century early Florentine Renaissance palace that was home of the Capitano della Montagna, officer sent from Florence to administer the Pistoia Mountain area. The village has two nice churches: Madonna di Piazza Church, 15th century church with some works attributed to Benedetto Buglioni, and St. Bartolomeo Church, 16th century church

Monte Cimone

with some remarkable paintings like Circoncisione by Giovanni da San Giovanni or la Nascita della Vergine by Nicodemo Ferrucci. In the border between the two regions, in the province of Bologna, it can be found Corno alle Scale Regional Park (49.7 km² park around the mountain Corno alle Scale, 1,945 m high). The regional park has many beautiful natural sights such as Scaffaiolo Lake, Dardagna Waterfall and the interesting route Rifugio Taburri-Libro Aperto-Cima Tauffi Trail (16.8 km). Not far from it is located Monte Cimone (2.165 m high mountaint, the highest in the northern Apennines) and the important Cimone Ski Resort.

Where can I eat in Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park?

The culinary offer of the park is diverse. Lunigiana has lots of local foods unique that include amor (small cake with creamy filling between wafers), spongata (Christmas cake containing chocolate, honey and hazelnuts), torta d'erbe (pie filled with a mixture of different ingredients) and testaroli (flat baked pasta, often served with pesto, sometimes regarded as the earliest recorded pasta). In the part of the park that corresponds to Emilia-Romagna it's very typical and famous the chesse parmigiano-reggiano, a hard and granular cheese that is produced from cow's milk protected with designations of origin.

Pontremoli has some nice places to eat like the cafe Antica Pasticceria Degli Svizzeri (Piazza della Repubblica 21/22), the trattoria Osteria Da Bussè (Piazza del Duomo 31) or the trattoria Pelliccia (Via Garibaldi 137).

 

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Posted in: Europe,Italy,National Park,Tuscany