Culture and Territory in Lunigiana

Of all the less-traveled routes in Italy and Tuscany, Lunigiana is one of the last real Italian destinations.

Its authenticity is undeniable, all you have to do is walk through the saturday morning street-market, down the village's narrow alleys where everyone knows each other, to discover a world of ancient heritage and rhythms. Life flows naturally, the stores close at lunch-time, the gastronomic varieties are countless and just waiting to be explored. This is the face of real Italy, a place that recognizes and safeguards its particularities and cherishes its differences.

This is the rare Italy that exists off the beaten tourist tracks, a land of archaic traditions and ancient legacies, the land of a new generation and long-standing passions. A land of booksellers, explorers, valorous soldiers and illustrious intellectuals, extraordinary women infused with inventiveness, courage and perseverance. A land of farmers, millers, innkeepers and shepherds that to this day still believe in the value of their earth.

A border territory that is just waiting to be discovered and to conquer your hearts: you might ask yourself where you've ended up, you might feel lost while you're walking up steep country pathways in search of a castle. There are hidden points where you might be astonished that your phone still has reception - or you might thank God that your mobile service is down.

You will be swept off your feet by natural views of rare and enthralling beauty that will make you delve deep into your memories in quest of similar landscapes, experiencing adventures and the unexpected just a few kilometers away from the unwinding highway. You will discover the surprisingly modern forms of prehistoric idols, the austere charm of Romanesque parishes, medieval castles that will send your imagination into a frenzy, Renaissance forts, welcoming and prosperous towns, abandoned settlements in the woods, fishing villages. From up on the hills, your eyes will feast on the sea, while from the seaside your glance will embrace the vast spectacularity of the hills.

In less than an hour, you will encounter chestnut groves and the typical Mediterranean scrub, deep caves and high peeks. Like a diviner in search for water, you will discover the refreshing and abundant source of a thousand-year history, an incessant flow that will spin you into the weave of your own personal narrative. Your very own tales of Lunigiana.

Source: Trame di Lunigiana