Discover Licciana-Nardi: Castles and Churches

Licciana-Nardi offers several ways to shape a stay: the Torrente Taverone, historic fortifications and churches, and trails between its villages. There are also scenic viewpoints in Monti and Apella, and opportunities to experience the landscape on foot or by bike. If you are looking for a hotel in Licciana-Nardi, you can start by considering whether architectural history, nature and outdoor activities, or regional food culture will shape your stay.

Landscape and trails

The Torrente Taverone runs through the Licciana-Nardi area and is one of the Magra’s larger tributaries. The village and valleys of Licciana-Nardi lie in the landscape of the Lunigiana and the scenic surroundings of the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park. Monti and Apella are known for their particularly striking views. These vistas complement the historic buildings with a distinct perspective on the area.

A dense network of trails runs between the villages and can be explored year-round. It offers another option for travellers who do not want to focus their stay solely on sightseeing. This makes it possible to treat local history and time spent on the trails as distinct priorities when planning a trip.

Castles and churches in Licciana-Nardi

The medieval Castello Malaspina Monti is in the village of Monti. Its layout includes a massive square tower and round towers of varying sizes at the corners of the enclosing wall. Arrow slits and fittings for a drawbridge are still visible on the entrance tower. The contrast between the square tower and the round towers defines the fortress’s silhouette, while the surviving details also draw attention to its entrance.

The Castello di Bastia offers a different architectural emphasis. The fortification dates to the 13th century, shows Renaissance features and stands on a hill in the Taverone Valley. Compared with the towers and entrance features at Monti, the focus here is on the Renaissance elements and the hilltop setting. The two fortifications therefore offer different points of interest for anyone curious about the area’s architectural history.

The churches also reveal different historical traces. The Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta in the village of Venelia-Monti was built in the 11th century; a Romanesque apse made of Pietra serena survives from the earlier building. The present church was rebuilt in the 18th century. The date of the original building, the surviving older section and the later rebuilding can therefore be considered separately. The Pieve di San Nicolò Varano houses an altarpiece by the 14th-century Lucchese painter Angelo Puccinelli. Alongside the buildings, the area’s cultural heritage thus includes a specific work of art.

Apella, cycling and regional cuisine

Apella is known as the birthplace of Anacarsi Nardi, a figure of the Risorgimento. Since 1995, Apella’s old tower has housed Agriturismo Montagna Verde and now serves as a visitor centre for the National Park. While the castles and churches bring architectural history to the fore, Apella adds a biographical connection to the Risorgimento and a present-day visitor-centre role for the tower.

From Apella, you can continue along the Lunigiana Trail by mountain bike or e-bike. The circular route is 230 kilometres long and passes through villages and by castles. Its length and circular layout make the trail a distinct cycling option alongside the network of trails between the villages. When planning your trip, you can choose between trails in the area and an extensive circular route that takes in villages and castles.

Regional food culture offers another point of interest: in Licciana-Nardi and the Lunigiana, you can sample pork products such as Spalla cotta and Mortadella della Lunigiana. These products add a regional culinary dimension to the cultural and landscape experiences.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Tavernelle, Amola, Pontebosio, Monti, Apella, Arpiola-pianturcano, Cantiere-ponticello, Corlaga.

Go to the main travel overview: Massa-Carrara.