the first stop on any tour of the province must be massa itself, nestled between green hills at the feet of the apuan alps.
within the old town one finds the medieval quarter, made up of narrow, winding streets, and the 16th-century section, built by the cybo malaspinas, the area's nobles in those days. the cathedral and the palazzo ducale of cybo malaspina (16th-17th centuries) are of particular interest.
another center of major historical and artistic interest is carrara, known internationally as the "city of marble," surrounded by the white bastion of the apuan alps, where intense mining and stonework is carried out. in addition to valuable monuments that include the cathedral and its romanesque-gothic façade, the 16th-century cybo malaspina residence, and the majestic palazzo delle logge, carrara also offers educational excursions regarding the local marble at the museo civico del marmo (marble museum) and the sculptors' and artists' workshops present nearby.
the tour should then continue outside the city for a visit to the extremely impressive marble quarries, such as the cava museo di fantiscritti. in the village of campocecina, visitors can admire the parco della memoria and the cava dei poeti, where the quotations of illustrious persons and poets were engraved into the walls for the 2002 biennale.
lunigiana offers a unique itinerary for discovering enchanting villages, beginning with fosdinovo, dominated by a medieval castle. in aulla is the majestic brunella fortress, constructed at the beginning of the 14th century (its name derives from its distinctive color); and the museum of natural history. crossing the passo del cerreto, travelers arrive in fivizzano, with its ancient walls and museo della stampa (print museum). do not miss the abbey church of sorano, near filattiera - a treasured romanesque monument with a striking apse - set amidst a pristine environment.
pontremoli is found in high lunigiana and bears a remarkable artistic legacy: the magnificent castello del piagnaro, home to the museum of stele statues; the cathedral; and the village's characteristic alleys. finally, nestled within luxuriant nature and dense woods lies zeri, famous for its gastronomy, e.g. the typical zerasco lamb.
