In the Area: MONTEMARCELLO
MONTEMARCELLO
The town lies within a protected regional park of the same name, right in the heart of nature with many paths to discover; there are a number of hiking trails that lead (without too much difficulty) to small villages along the Ligurian coast.
It is the ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts given the numerous steep routes to take on, refreshed by the sea breeze.
Montemarcello is a beautiful village which dominates the "Caprione" promontory from above, overlooking the gulf of La Spezia, Cinque Terre, the open sea, the Versilia coast and the mouth of the Magra River. In 2006, it officially became one of the 100 most beautiful villages in Italy.
Beach access
There is a long and sporty track with stairs (recommended for those in good shape) that leads from the town down to Punta Corvo, but the pristine beach is well worth the effort! Otherwise, there are equipped beaches just a 4 km drive away (Bocca di Magra, Fiumaretta, Marinella).
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
BOCCA DI MAGRA
A well-known meeting place for writers and intellectuals (Eugenio Montale, Giulio Einaudi, Cesare Pavese), it is now part of the Cultural Itinerary of Val di Magra and Terra di Luni. There are several marinas here for recreational use, which also offer convenient motorboat services that will take you to small coves and nearby beaches (Punta Bianca with its white cliffs and Punta Corvo) as well as neighbouring towns such as Lerici, Portovenere and Cinque Terre.
PORTOVENERE
This ancient village on the western point of La Spezia Gulf is one of the most enchanting villages on the coast, with a long history. One of the most beautiful spots in Portovenere is Grotta Byron, the cave named after the famous nineteenth century poet. Like Cinque Terre, Portovenere is a World Heritage Site.
SARZANA
This bigger town with a rich program of events is located just 13km away.
Each year at the start of September, the famous “Mind Festival” is held in Sarzana, a creative and enjoyable event that entertains the public. In August, “La soffitta sulla strada” is an event not to be missed by antiques enthusiasts.
LERICI
Unmissable with its picturesque old port, where boats depart regularly for the world-famous Cinque Terre.
Photo Credit: Kuster&Wildhaber
Photo Credit: Harshil Shah
LE CINQUE TERRE
Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia and Riomaggiore are the five towns comprising Cinque Terre, famous around the world for their unique location. The colourful villages overlooking a crystal blue sea are a destination not to be missed!
FORTE DEI MARMI
With bustling markets with stalls reminiscent of Saint Tropez, Forte dei Marmi, also called “Forte” for short, is a popular and much appreciated seaside resort on the Versilia coast. Its success is due to the constant attention and care for the vast sandy beaches and the presence of many famous evening venues that have always animated summer nights in Versilia.
PIETRASANTA
An attractive destination for cultural and elite tourism, Pietrasanta, is also called the mini Athens of Versilia for the high concentration of artists who decided to settle down here and has ancient roots in marble-working. A few kilometres away, Marina di Pietrasanta provides a kaleidoscopic view of Versilia.
CARRARA MARBLE QUARRIES
The tour of the three marble basins at the Torano, Fantiscritti and Colonnata quarries is an unforgettable and unique experience: following the route of the former Marble Railway, visitors are led on a spectacular journey passing across Ponti di Vara and inside the fascinating tunnels dug into the rock, to discover the quarries where Carrara marble has been extracted since pre-Romanesque times.