Discover Aulla: Via Francigena and culture

Aulla brings together the landscapes of Lunigiana, the history of the Via Francigena and several cultural sites. This offers different ways to plan your stay, focusing on pilgrimage routes, sacred history, or fortresses and museums. The places and rail connections below offer concrete pointers to which aspects of Aulla you may wish to include in your travel plans.

Between the Magra and Aulella rivers

Aulla is in Lunigiana, on a narrow strip of land at the confluence of the Magra River and the Aulella stream. The border with Liguria is only a few kilometres away. The two waterways and the shape of the land define the town’s geographical setting; at the same time, Aulla is part of a landscape whose regional context extends beyond its immediate surroundings. If you choose Aulla as your destination, its location offers a concrete starting point for exploring the history and routes of Lunigiana.

Via Francigena: pilgrimage route and trade route

Historically, the Via Francigena passed through Aulla as a pilgrimage route and also served as a trade route at that time. The town’s history is therefore linked to two different functions of the same route: religious travel and trade. From Aulla, travellers can walk or cycle the Aulla–Pontremoli section, Stage 23, and the Aulla–Sarzana section, Stage 24. The destinations and stage numbers help distinguish the two routes; both are suitable for walking and cycling. Route conditions and services may vary, so check the current situation when planning your trip.

San Caprasio: church and pilgrimage museum

The Church of San Caprasio was founded in 884 by Adalberto I, Margrave of Tuscany, and dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. The chapter house of the Monastery of San Caprasio houses a pilgrimage museum with archaeological finds from Roman, early medieval and medieval times. Aulla thus brings together different historical reference points: the church’s foundation and dedication, as well as finds from several periods. To understand the history of pilgrimage, the route through the town and the museum’s archaeological themes complement each other, while offering different kinds of insight.

Renaissance fortress and natural history

The Fortezza della Brunella is an imposing Renaissance fortress in Aulla, in the province of Massa-Carrara and in Lunigiana. Its roof garden offers views of Lunigiana, the Apennines and the Apuan Alps. Architectural history and landscape come together here: the fortress dates from the Renaissance, while the garden looks out over several regional landscapes.

Another area of interest is the Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana. Its collections cover botany, zoology and mineralogy. This organisation offers three different approaches to natural history. If you are comparing cultural themes, the Renaissance architecture of Brunella can be distinguished from the museum’s natural history collections, without conflating the two places or subjects.

Castello di Pallerone

Castello di Pallerone is in Pallerone, not in the centre of Aulla. It was a luxurious 17th-century residence belonging to the Malaspina marquises of Olivola-Pallerone. The late 17th-century hall is decorated with frescoes depicting mythological scenes and scenes from everyday life at the time. Pallerone offers a distinct historical perspective: unlike the Renaissance fortress of Brunella, the focus here is a 17th-century residence and its painted interiors.

Rail connections for your travel plans

Aulla is connected to the Parma–La Spezia and Aulla–Lucca railway lines. If you are including rail travel in your plans, these are the two connections mentioned in the context of Aulla. Check the current service before departure. Together with the Via Francigena stages, these connections make it easy to distinguish between planning a train journey and choosing a walking or cycling route.

Discover more destinations: Ripa, Pallerone, Bigliolo, Massa, Casola In Lunigiana, Corlaga, Fivizzano, Prota.

For the overall travel guide: Massa-Carrara.