Zignago: Discover archaeology and hiking trails

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Zignago, its archaeological sites, the history of the Santuario and the trails on Monte Dragnone can help guide your trip. The sites range from finds dating to different periods to routes with specified distances and walking times. This can help you decide whether to focus your visit mainly on archaeological traces and buildings or on a hike.

Archaeological traces and building history

The permanent archaeological exhibition “Tiziano Mannoni” in Pieve di Zignago is divided into two sections. One contains Bronze Age finds from excavations at the Castellari; the other, finds from the medieval village on Monte Zignago. A cast of the statue stele discovered in Novà in 1827 is also a central part of the exhibition. These finds offer insight into different periods in the history of the area.

The statue stele of Zignago is the westernmost statue stele in the historic Lunigiana group. Its inscription reads “Mezu Nemunius” and uses Etruscan characters. The remains of the medieval village of Zignaculi, destroyed by fire in the 14th century, can also be seen on a hill above Pieve di Zignago. At nearby Monte Castellaro, traces of Bronze Age settlement have been documented, including remains of huts and traces of terracotta clay floors.

The history of the Santuario Nostra Signora del Dragnone also goes back a long way: the Marian sanctuary is located on Monte Dragnone in the hamlet of Pieve di Zignago and is considered an ancient Ligurian place of worship. After ground subsidence caused significant damage to the previous building, the Santuario was rebuilt in 1856. It lies in the woods of Monte Dragnone; an unpaved road connects the site to the mountain.

Hiking trails with different time requirements

The circular hike from Pieve di Zignago to Monte Dragnone is 6 kilometres long, takes about 3 hours and climbs 378 metres. It is rated E and marked with trail signs 18/NO. The trailhead is to the left of the bell tower of the parish church of San Pietro Apostolo. After leaving the village, the route follows a wide gravel road marked with white and red CAI signs. Route conditions and markings may change; check them before setting out.

Another, considerably shorter trail leads from Foce del Castellaro to Monte Castellaro: it is 0.5 kilometres long, takes about 15 minutes, climbs 80 metres and is rated T/E. The trail branches off trail 18 in the direction of Pieve di Zignago. This means that a circular hike of about three hours and a short walk of around 15 minutes offer very different time commitments; their starting points and ratings also differ.

Other routes explore the mountain landscape in different ways. The La Via dei Monti hiking trail has a challenging high-altitude section between Pieve di Zignago and Colle Fiorito; at Colle Fiorito it joins the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. The La Via dei Monti mountain bike route also leads to Pieve di Zignago and then climbs to Località Castellaro. The high-altitude trail between Brugnato and Pieve di Zignago follows the ancient Via della Reigada, which connected Serò with Brugnato for centuries. For those interested in historic paths, this offers another link to the region's past alongside its archaeological traces.

Discover more destinations: Sarzana, Follo, Arcola, Biassa, Torza, La Foce, Levanto, Rio.

For the overview of the wider area: La Spezia.