Val di Magra
The Val di Magra extends the borders between Liguria and Tuscany in the plain that is found between the province of La Spezia and that of Massa-Carrara. The river Magra characterizes the territory starting at the inland fortified villages and finishing at the flow into the Ligurian Sea. Sarzana is a little ancient town on the outskirts of Val di Magra. It was already mentioned in the X century as a fortified castle, and became an important mercantile city beginning in 1204 the year that it became the episcopic headquarters
center of commerce growing in importance. It was a part of the surrounding states until it joined the Republic of Genoa in 1562.
The historical center is surrounded by Genoese walls and overlooking the Medicean town is a fortress surrounded by moats, with four towers at each corner and two in the middle of the larger sides. The most interesting of phases of city planning was that of the “ideal city” structured according to renaissance standards in the second half of the 1400’s by Lorenzo il Magnifico – Lorenzo the Magnificent. On the hills that overlook the eastern zone of the village of Sarzana the Castel of Sarzanello stands tall, almost completely immersed by nature and green, and whose first testimonies date back to 1076. 15 km away from Sarzana in the Archeological area of Luni, a roman city founded in 177a.c. outside of its walls you may also see the amphitheatre (that could seat over 6000 spectators) and the cemetery.
Useful Links
News about Val di Magra: www.valdimagranews.it
Site abotu Val di Magra: www.valdimagra.com
