Mulazzo: Dante, Museums and Hiking Trails

Mulazzo brings together a diverse cultural offering, historic buildings and hiking trails. As you plan your stay, you can choose from attractions such as the museum dedicated to Dante, the Malaspina collections, the Santuario della Madonna del Monte and local food culture.

Cultural Sites and History in Mulazzo

The Museo “Casa di Dante in Lunigiana” is a cultural institution with a range of uses. It was established to celebrate the special relationship between Dante and Lunigiana. The museum occupies the piano nobile of the last surviving medieval residential tower within the walls of the historic 13th-century village. Visits are currently available by prior reservation only. Confirm visiting arrangements before your trip.

The Archivio-Museo Malaspina houses two permanent exhibitions and preserves extensive collections relating to the Malaspina family: more than 9,000 books, 600 periodical titles and over 25,000 manuscripts. Another focus is material from Alessandro Malaspina’s voyage around the world from 1789 to 1794. This includes drawings and paintings of animals, plants, places and Indigenous peoples. The subjects therefore range from family history and archival material to the themes of the expedition.

The Museo dell’Emigrazione della Gente di Toscana is located in Castello di Lusuolo. The medieval fortification in the municipality of Mulazzo controlled the middle Magra Valley and a river crossing. The museum and castle thus offer different historical points of interest for your stay.

The Sanctuary and Trails in the Heights

The Santuario della Madonna del Monte is located in the Mulazzo area at an altitude of 1,000 metres. This Romanesque religious building is documented from the 12th century. Around 1100, Benedictine monks from Borzone-Borzonasca Abbey built a monastery and a hospice for pilgrims there. The site’s history connects sacred architecture with its former role as a pilgrims’ hostel.

From the area around the sanctuary, the Via delle Maestà hiking trail leads towards Montereggio. Small religious shrines known as “Maestà” line the route. Montereggio di Mulazzo is a medieval village of feudal origins on the ridge of Monte Carbone, at an altitude of about 600 metres and surrounded by ancient chestnut trees. The village is also part of the European Booktown network. This hiking route thus brings together small religious monuments and a village with a literary tradition.

Another cultural experience is offered by the Via Dantis: its panels are equipped with QR codes and provide an immersive augmented reality experience, with information in Italian and English. This digital format adds an interactive element to exploring Dante’s work.

Local Food Culture and Event Dates

Castagnetoli, in the municipality of Mulazzo, has a traditional association with skilled makers of “testi.” These cooking vessels are used to prepare a range of foods: bread, testaroli, Torta d’erbi and potato cake. The use of the same type of vessel for bread and various savoury dishes shows the breadth of Castagnetoli’s local culinary tradition. For travellers interested in regional food culture as well as museums, this is a distinct aspect of the municipality.

Wine events are also among the documented local attractions. Each year, the municipality of Mulazzo sets the dates for the “Anteprima Bancarel’Vino,” the “Premio Bancarel’Vino” and the meeting of the tasting commission. The municipality organised the national wine competition “Premio Bancarel’Vino 2024” in 2024. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the dates for your travel year.

Getting to Mulazzo

You can reach the village of Mulazzo by car via the Pontremoli motorway exit, followed by 7 kilometres along Provincial Road 31. This information gives both the exit and the road section to the village, helping you factor the journey into your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Gavedo, Montereggio, Marina di Carrara, Pontremoli, Massa, Aulla, Pian di Molino, Fosdinovo.

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