Monti between village history and mountain landscape

Monti between village history and landscape

Monti reveals its character through two clearly distinguishable areas: a small historic village lies on higher ground with the castle, while a larger settlement is located in the plain. This structure shapes orientation in the area and makes Monti a destination where historic settlement development and different landscape settings come together. If you would like to get to know Italy away from larger cities, this division offers a tangible way to approach the history of the place.

Church and Castle

Monti is home to the Catholic Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which is also known as the Pieve di Santa Maria di Venelia. It is located in the municipality of Licciana Nardi in the province of Massa-Carrara. The pieve has been documented since the end of the 10th century, was completely rebuilt in the 18th century and includes the semicircular apse of the former Romanesque church from the 12th century. The building therefore combines several clearly recognizable historical periods in one place.

The Castle of Monti also bears witness to the village’s eventful history. In the 16th century, Duke Moroello Malaspina transformed the medieval castle into an aristocratic residence. The history of the castle complements the pieve’s religious focus with a secular chapter and makes Monti interesting for travelers who do not want to consider architecture and historical connections separately.

Views and destinations in the surrounding area

The terrace of Castello Malaspina di Monti offers far-reaching views over the Lunigiana Valley, the Apennines and the peaks of the Apuan Alps. This creates a connection between the historic setting and the large landscape areas surrounding Monti when planning your trip. The area around Monti also includes Castello Malaspina and Castello di Madrignano. In the wider regional surroundings are the Vallardi Galleria D'Arte di Gasparini Vittorio Museum and the Cardelli e Fontana arte contemporanea Museum.

Mountains and cycling tour

Several high-altitude destinations are also part of the area around Monti: Monte Giogo, the summit of Monte Bocco, the summit of Monte Losanna and Monte Sillara. If you want to include landscape experiences in your trip, you can consider these different destinations as regional reference points in your planning, without reducing Monti to a single view or a single building.

For cycling travelers, the route of the MM4-N002 cycling tour from the Bagnone Plain to the Taverone Plain is also relevant. The tour passes through Monti di Licciana. Together with the historic buildings and the surrounding mountains, this creates a travel focus that combines culture with active exploration of the landscape.

Visiting Castello Malaspina di Monti in 2026

Castello Malaspina di Monti can be visited in 2026 on specified dates and at specified times. Advance reservation is required for the visit. If you plan to include the castle in your trip, you should take this time-restricted access into account when planning your stay.

Choose accommodation based on your travel focus

When choosing a hotel in Monti, you can align the focus of your trip with the specific themes of the place: the Pieve di Santa Maria di Venelia and the history of the castle appeal to those interested in cultural history, while the terrace of Castello Malaspina di Monti offers views of the valley and mountains. The surrounding mountains and the MM4-N002 cycling tour add nature and cycling to this perspective. Monti therefore remains clearly defined as a destination while you select accommodation suited to your own interests.

More destinations for orientation

Tavernelle, Apella, Amola and Pontebosio

To the higher-level travel overview: Licciana-Nardi.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Monti Sibillini National Park, Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.