Sarzana and the river Magra valley

The river Magra valley, located between the cities of La Spezia and Massa, belongs to the heart of Lunigiana and offers such diverse landscapes: from the coast, its territory slowly moves towards the hills, with castles and ancient villages, and extends up to the rocky peaks of the Apuan Alps.

Sarzana, a crossroads between the regions of Liguria, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna, extending over a flat area of the valley, is one of most typical towns of this territory.

Today, its historical center still presents ancient walls and bastions, and is rich in religious monuments, including the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the Assumption’s Cathedral) and the Pieve di Sant’Andrea (Saint Andrew’s parish church). The urban core once was the uphill built-up area where the Fortezza di Sarzanello (also called “Castruccio Castracani’s Fortress) stands. Other local architectural highlights include Villa Carpena on Torrione Testaforte and the City Hall.

Today, the remaining structures of its powerful defense system are the Fortezza Firmafede, a fortification situated within the historical nucleus of Sarzana, and Castruccio Castracani’s Fortress.