Fivizzano

Fivizzano - In the heart of Lunigiana, a few kilometers from the 5 Terre, stands Fivizzano, a treasure trove of artistic, landscape and food and wine jewels. The territory of Fivizzano with the imposing mountains, the beautiful waterfalls, the trekking paths, the enchanting Lago di Padule, the chalk mountain in the hamlet of Sassalbo is the ideal place for those who want to admire the treasures of Lunigiana.

Piazza Medicea is the greatest testimony of the Florentine nature of this land, in the center of the square there is a fountain built by Cosimo de Medici. The Verrucola fortress is a medieval construction located in Verrucola, a hamlet of Fivizzano. The structure houses works and sketches by the sculptor Cascella. One of Cascella's works is located in the square of the hamlet of Rometta; the sculpture symbolizes the union of the 5 lands. Acqui terme is one of the best known hamlets of Fivizzano, thanks to its thermal structure of sulphurous waters. The caves of Acqui terme are a priceless natural heritage, before entering the caves it is possible to visit the museum that tells the geology of the various caves; the museum also contains the stele statues. The Acqui cave with its bottlenecks and the beauty of the stalactites offers a unique spectacle to the eyes of visitors. The glossy valley has made the history of marble quarries here we find the largest peripheral in the world, a work of ingenuity capable of solving the problems of marble transport. The city of Fivizzano is still today surrounded by the walls built by the Grand Dukes of Tuscany who renewed the town planning. The façade of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin in Adoration is made of sandstone and presents low reliefs in marble; on the central door the low relief representing the Madonna dell'Adorazione while on the side doors there are the Saints Antonio and Jacopo. On the bell tower there is the Medici coat of arms. The ancient Pieve di San Paolo, once a destination for pilgrims, is located on the ancient Via Francigena. The old Augustinian convent houses inside the sacred library and the municipal hostel. The former building preserves the frescoes representing the life of Sant'Agostino by Michele Angelo da Fivizzano. Inside the former convent there is the museum of San Giovanni which contains the few furnishings of the destroyed church of San Giovanni, of particular importance is the sarcophagus of Friar Leonardo Vellazzana opposed to Girolamo Savonarola. The 'Flavors' event, which takes place in early June, offers gourmets from all over the world to be able to taste the typical dishes of the place and to attend medieval shows. Local products are: chestnut honey, Lunigiana dop flour, oil, wine, mushrooms, chestnuts and blueberries.