Aulla – Via Francigena, Fortress and Lunigiana

Aulla combines the history of the Lunigiana with a distinctive location on the water and a historic pilgrimage route. The town lies on a narrow strip of land at the confluence of the Magra and Aulella rivers, a few kilometres from the border with Liguria. For choosing your accommodation, this means that historic sights, landscape views and a rail connection come together in a small area in Aulla.

Between the Magra, Aulella and the Via Francigena

The Via Francigena passed through Aulla as a pilgrimage route. At that time, it also served as a trade route, thereby shaping the town's historical importance. Today, travellers can use the Aulla–Pontremoli section, Stage 23, and the Aulla–Sarzana section, Stage 24, on foot or by bicycle from Aulla. The two directions make the town a starting point for different routes, without requiring you to commit to a single historical or landscape perspective. Aulla is also connected to the Parma–La Spezia and Aulla–Lucca railway lines. This specific connection adds a transport-related aspect to the character of the town and is a relevant difference when looking for a base in the Lunigiana compared with a purely remote rural location.

San Caprasio and the history of pilgrims

The Church of San Caprasio was founded in 884 by Adalberto I, margrave of Tuscany, and dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. A pilgrim museum is located in the chapter house of the San Caprasio monastery. It displays archaeological finds from the Roman, early medieval and medieval periods. The church, monastery and museum therefore present Aulla's history across several periods: from the Roman finds through the early Middle Ages to the medieval pilgrimage tradition. The Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana offers another cultural perspective, with botanical, zoological and mineralogical collections. Anyone wishing to explore not only architectural history but also the region's natural diversity during their stay will find here an independent complement to San Caprasio.

Fortress, views and Castello di Pallerone

The Fortezza della Brunella is an imposing Renaissance fortress in Aulla, in the province of Massa-Carrara and in the Lunigiana. Its rooftop garden offers impressive views of the Lunigiana, the Apennines and the Apuan Alps. The fortress therefore combines a clearly identifiable structure with views across several surrounding landscapes. The Castello di Pallerone also offers a different approach to the region's history. It is a luxurious 17th-century residence that belonged to the Malaspina marquises of Olivola-Pallerone. A salon from the late 17th century is particularly vivid: frescoes depicting mythological scenes and scenes from everyday life at the time define this room. Aulla includes Ripa, Pallerone and Bigliolo. The Massa-Carrara area also includes Zeri, Gragnana, Montignoso, Massa and Caniparola.

For the higher-level travel overview: Massa-Carrara.