Montereggio for cultural and historical trips

Montereggio is an ancient fortified village in a strategic location. From the Valico dei Casoni, it controlled the route between the Magra Valley, the Via Francigena and the Ligurian Sea. Its history is reflected in its feudal architecture, its squares and the memory of its itinerant booksellers. If you’re looking for hotels in Montereggio, this combination offers a cultural focus to help you choose where to stay.

Fortified history and architecture

The feudal territory of Montereggio was established in 1573. The Palazzo dei Marchesi Malaspina is a feudal residence; two towers from an older castle were incorporated into its construction. The palazzo thus combines the function of a feudal residence with older defensive architecture.

At the center of the village stands the Church of Santo Apollinare and San Francesco Fogola. Its bell tower is now attached to the half-façade. The tower had a defensive function and was connected to other towers that no longer exist in the area today. Sacred architecture and the history of fortifications thus meet in a single, specific building. Montereggio’s strategic importance is also attested to by its depiction in the Galleria delle Carte Geografiche at the Vatican Museums.

Squares and historic landmarks

At the entrance to the village, Piazza Arnoldi features a medieval stone gateway. The stone fountain in Piazza Mondadori, also known as Piazza della Fontana, dates to 1856. At the time, it was the only source of water for the inhabitants of Montereggio. The gateway and fountain represent different aspects of the village’s history: one points to its historic entrance, while the other recalls the water supply of the time.

The story of the itinerant booksellers

The history of Montereggio’s itinerant booksellers dates back to the Renaissance. Since the 19th century, they have brought books to cities in central and northern Italy. Montereggio is described as Italy’s only “book town.” In 1959, a monument to the itinerant bookseller was erected in the village. This history brings together a long tradition, the specific work of taking books beyond the region, and a monument dedicated to it.

The Church of Sant’Apollinare also offers a biographical point of interest: it houses relics of the Chinese martyr-bishop Francesco Fogolla, as well as the baptismal font at which he was baptized. This religious theme adds another distinct perspective to the village’s history.

A local tradition

Cantamaggio is a tradition in Montereggio featuring folk songs, the colors of spring and a sense of community. It adds a shared cultural focus to the village’s architectural traces and bookselling history. These different themes offer various points of connection if you would like to shape your stay around the village’s history and traditions. In the wider region, the Cammino delle Maestà is considered an ideal link between two important natural areas in the territory of ancient Lunezia.

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Go to the main travel overview: Mulazzo.