Castelnuovo Magra between art, wine and hill trails

Castelnuovo Magra brings together several interests that can be weighted differently when planning a trip: works of art and historic architecture sit alongside Ligurian wine, hilly trails and an agriculturally shaped landscape. If you are considering the town as a destination for a hotel stay, these themes can provide a concrete framework for your decision. The following highlights range from works of art and palazzi to trails and terraces.

Works of art with different stories

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena houses a Crucifixion by Peter Brueghel il Giovane. The painting is executed on five oak panels and is one of several copies of a famous, lost Crucifixion by Peter Brueghel il Vecchio. Two aspects are important for understanding it: the work in Castelnuovo Magra and its relationship to a lost original. The support is also specific: five oak panels form the basis of the painting. Those interested in art can consider both its execution and the history of how the subject was passed down.

Another sacred work of art is found in the Oratorio dei Rossi: a wooden crucifix from the 17th century, probably from Tuscany. Its material and dating give the object its own context; its Tuscan origin is considered probable. In contrast to the Crucifixion, which is a copy of a lost painting, this is a wooden crucifix. The comparison makes the differences between the two works tangible without presenting them as part of a shared history of origin.

Streetscape and Palazzo Amati

Via Dante is paved with sandstone and lined with the marble and stone portals of imposing palaces. The street combines two distinct material impressions: sandstone underfoot, and marble and stone in the portals. For travelers interested in architecture, the street is a point of interest in its own right, alongside the works of art in the religious buildings.

The Palazzo Amati-Ingolotti-Cornelio, also known as Palazzo Amati, features colorful 19th-century frescoes in several rooms. Chronologically, they are later than the wooden crucifix from the 17th century. At the same time, the mention of several rooms draws attention to the building’s decorative scheme rather than just a single work of art. The frescoes thus complement the architectural details of Via Dante with another perspective on the historic building fabric.

Ligurian wine and the landscape

L’Enoteca Regionale della Liguria is located in Palazzo Amati. Visitors and wine enthusiasts can learn more about Ligurian wines and taste them there. This combines information with tasting. The terraces of La Valle dei Mulini offer another perspective on wine and agriculture: in the middle and lower parts of the valley, cultivated land with vineyards and olive groves has been preserved. Two different perspectives are therefore side by side: at the Enoteca, knowledge about wine and tastings; in the valley, wine and olive cultivation in a shaped landscape.

Marked trails and different activities

Castelnuovo Magra offers around ten kilometers of hilly, marked hiking trails that can be explored on foot, on horseback and by mountain bike. The approximate length gives an idea of the extent of the trail network; the hilly terrain describes the landscape through which the trails run. Another practical distinction for your planning is the choice of activity: you can explore the trails on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike. Together with the historic buildings, works of art and wine, these make up a destination whose highlights you can prioritize according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: San Bernardino, Marinella Di Sarzana, Madonna di Buonviaggio, Sarzana, Fiumaretta di Ameglia, Mattarana, Piano di Follo, Montemarcello.

For the overview of the wider area: La Spezia.