Montemagno between village history and the Via Francigena

Montemagno between village history and the Via Francigena

Montemagno combines visible castle remains with a section of the Via Francigena. Other highlights include a woodcarving symposium, as well as museums, palaces, beaches and mountains in the surrounding area.

The castle above the village

The remains of Montemagno Castle are visible on a hill above the village. Among the surviving features are parts of the curtain wall and the façade of the church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. The medieval castle served both as a residence for the ruling lord and as a refuge during sieges. Strategically, it stood above the Via Francigena, which connected the Versilia plain with Lucca.

The Leccio di Montemagno and the trails

The ascent to Montemagno on the Via Francigena is associated with an almost thousand-year-old holm oak. The centuries-old Leccio di Montemagno was considered Giorgio Gaber’s favourite tree and fell after severe storms in November 2019. Saplings from the tree were planted in his memory with the participation of local schools. A section of the Via Francigena begins at the Leccio di Montemagno and runs along the northern side of the Church of San Michele di Montemagno. The Pontemazzori–Montemagno–Pontemazzori circular route, Anello di Camaiore Antiqua, also includes an almost level forest section of around 2.5 kilometres to Località alla Trina above Montemagno. For planning a day trip, the almost level forest section to Località alla Trina can be considered separately from the ascent to the holm oak. The circular route leads from Pontemazzori via Montemagno and back to Pontemazzori.

Woodcarving as a cultural theme

The woodcarving symposium is also one of Montemagno’s defining cultural themes. It was held for the fifth consecutive time. For the Montemagno edition, twelve chainsaw-carving masters were expected on Saturday, 9 May, and Sunday, 10 May, to create new wooden statues. The wooden sculptures produced as part of the symposium were to remain in Montemagno as part of an open-air museum. The event dates and the planned permanence of the works link the craftsmanship with a lasting connection to Montemagno.

The surrounding area between museums, palaces, beaches and mountains

The Museo archeologico di Camaiore, a museum, is located in the immediate vicinity of Montemagno. The surrounding area also includes Villa Le Pianore, a palace; the Museo del Carnevale di Viareggio, a museum; and Villa Borbone, also a palace. For a different type of landscape, there are Spiaggia Lido di Camaiore and Spiaggia Marina di Pietrasanta, both beaches in the surrounding area. Monte Matanna and Monte Procinto are located there as mountains. Thus, alongside cultural sites, the surrounding area also offers specific connections to beaches and mountain landscapes.

Further places for orientation

Further places for orientation: Capezzano Pianore, Valpromaro Di Camaiore, Fibbialla, Buchignano, Orbicciano, Pontemazzori, Monteggiori, Fibbiano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Camaiore.