Filattiera: Pilgrim Route, Steles and River Landscape

The historic Via del Volto Santo pilgrim route passes through the Filattiera area. Whether you are travelling for culture, nature or food, you will find a range of points of interest here: archaeological remains in Sorano, the banks of the Magra and festivals and dishes from Lunigiana. If you are looking for a hotel in Filattiera, these themes can help you tailor your stay to your interests.

Routes between the pilgrim trail and nature

The Sentiero Natura lets you explore the natural surroundings on foot. The Monte Bosta route starts at the Filattiera tourist information point and bike centre and returns there after about 25 kilometres. Another circular route, “Tra borghi e boschi nella valle del Caprio”, ends at the Pieve di Sorano and is signposted as route number 2 of the Lunigiana Bike Area. The routes can be distinguished by their different features: the approximate length and return to the starting point are given for Monte Bosta, while the other route ends at the Pieve and is marked with route number 2.

Floodplain and birdlife

The “Fiume Magra 2” area includes Filattiera’s extensive floodplain. Its rural features include rows of trees, irrigation ditches and watermills. The “more” are also characteristic: old, dry stone riverbank structures. These details give the floodplain its own distinctive landscape, different from the historic themes of the routes and churches.

The river and riverside habitats in the Fiume Magra area are home to numerous bird species, including kingfishers and various herons. Together with the Sentiero Natura, the river landscape is a distinct attraction for travellers interested in nature and habitats.

Archaeological remains and history

The Area Archeologica di Sorano offers visits to the church and the surrounding archaeological areas. Explanatory panels and casts of prehistoric steles add to the visit. The Pieve di Santo Stefano di Sorano is also one of the stops on the Lunigiana archaeological route dedicated to anthropomorphic steles. The distinction is useful for orientation: at Sorano, the focus is on visiting the church and archaeological areas and on the steles; the route places the Pieve in a broader thematic context.

Another trace of history is preserved at the Pieve di San Giorgio: it houses the Leodegar inscription, an important epigraphic document commemorating Leodegar and dating from 752. The Pieve di San Giorgio and the Pieve di Santo Stefano di Sorano therefore offer different points of interest for a cultural stay: the inscription at the former, the prehistoric steles at the latter.

Lunigiana festivals and cuisine

Every year on 16 January, Sant’Antonio abate is celebrated in Filattiera from dusk onwards. The celebrations include a religious ceremony, a procession and three bonfires lit by the municipality’s three Contrade. La Festa della Fame e della Sete, a local festival featuring Lunigiana specialities, takes place in June. The two events bring different highlights to the travel calendar. If you would like to include a festival in your trip, check the event dates for your travel year.

Regional dishes also offer a distinctive culinary experience. In Filattiera, you can sample Lunigiana specialities such as torta d’erbi, torta di patate, testaroli and spalla cotta filattierese. When planning, you can choose between festivals tied to specific dates and dishes that you can discover as part of the local cuisine independently of those dates.

Discover more destinations: Montignoso, Podenzana, Comano, Marina di Carrara, Arpiola-pianturcano, Bagnone, Fivizzano, Casola In Lunigiana

For the overview of the wider area: Massa-Carrara.