What to see in the surrounding area of Sarzana
Our bed and breakfast is likely to be a starting point to visit Sarzana and the surrounding area, Le Cinque Terre, La Versilia, the castles of Lunigiana (the region of the hundred castles) and the marble quarries of Carrara.Starting from Sarzana: ours is a beautiful and lively city situated near the mouth of the river Magra which unfolds between the provinces of La Spezia and Massa-Carrara. The town was established around the year 1000 a.d. From a small medieval village fortified with bastions and ramparts, protected by the nearby fortress of Castruccio Castracani, Sarzana gradually became an increasingly important hub due to its location on the border of three regions: Liguria, Tuscany and Emilia.
There are many monuments in Sarzana, some are listed below:
•the Co-cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 15th century, here you can admire the famous Cross of Maestro Guglielmo, the oldest known painted Italian crucifix (1138);
•then there is the beautiful 11th-century church of Sant'Andrea (the Patron Saint of Sarzana);
•the fortresses: the fortress of Sarzanello, also known as La Fortezza di Castruccio Castracani; the Firmafede fortress also called La Cittadella stands at the edge of the city walls in the old town and was built by Lorenzo The Magnificent in the 15th century together with the Palazzo Comunale.
In summer Sarzana comes alive with many interesting events, among the more important are:
•Acoustic Guitar Festival, the event is one of the most highly recognised and respected festivals internationally for those dedicated to the acoustic guitar
•the Soffitta nella strada, literally means the attic on the street, a market of antiques and modern art in the streets and squares of the historic center of Sarzana
•the Festival della mente, the festival of the mind includes meetings, workshops, shows with artists, scientists, philosophers, neuroscientists, Italian and foreign intellectuals, all coming together around the theme of creativity and the creative process
•La Calandriniana is an exhibition of modern painting where painters create their works on a daily basis. From Sarzana, you can easily reach the beaches of Marinella and La Versilia, Le Cinque Terre, Genoa, Lerici, Portovenere, the marble quarries of Carrara, and Lucca, Florence and Pisa.
You can also visit the Roman amphitheatre of Luni as part of the tour of the National Archaeological Museum of Luni, the fortress of Castruccio Castracani and the ancient castles and villages of Lunigiana.
