Verghetto:the enchanted forest

Verghetto, the enchanted forest



VERGHETTO THE ENCHANTED FOREST

When my grandmother used to tell me stories in that cold far away country where I was born, I thought the forest of fairies existed only in the imagination of men. Instead, anyone led into the woods of Verghetto, can look up and see a wonderful world ,since a long time unexplored that reminds us of childhood. 
The forest here is rich in chestnut trees, with trunks that hide the secrets of fairies and gnomes, ready to give their woody warm embrace to travelers passing by,who are shivering in the wind of winter, and equally ready to give them fresh and blessed shade in the summer, when the heat becomes unbearable. 
Tourists can find all of this in this lovely and wise place that used to be the point of  gathering for"old people" from Massa.

The foliage of these ancient trees darkens the sky and makes us forget about the  business of the marble quarries, not making us notice the activities of those who, just a few steps away, tear away noisily, by various methods, the body of the white mountains. Their fallen leaves lie on a carpet of silence that hides our footsteps, as they once did with the people who went on this trail with cattle or with various goods. The large branches almost horizontal,look like human arms and they invite you to hook a swing and become a carefree children.

Among fairies, gnomes, dreams and memories, there is something that brings us back to reality and it is the fear for safety due to the reckless mountain bikers who occasionally go down to see Colonnata.

At the top of the hill, this place is still enchanting us with emotions, opening to a spectacular view of the sparkling sea, but yet another breathtaking scene lurks around the corner: 
the Apuan Alps show their beauty to our eyes, in places where some old houses of shepherds remind us of the area's pastoral vocation. In this green lawn, we are surrounded by mountains, and by walking towards Colonnata, chestnuts can no longer block the view of what is happening to the mountains that can be seen from the opposite side. 
On this side in fact the landscape is different. We are far from the mountains so dear to the ancient  Apuan Ligurians, so beautiful and yet so fierce in their suffering today. Mountains for centuries affected in their purity, showing their today the deep wounds. In front of us a white and strange tip, of which nobody remembers the original name (if it ever had one), it has the shape of a tooth and with melancholy it reminds us that the marble is now used for making toothpaste. 
A name that belongs to eternity, Michelangelo , and one of his works, "pietà" kept in the heart of the most important church in the world, brings us back to the times when the marble meant more art and less money. The name of this famous statue, it makes me think of the cries of our mountains, giants without a voice.With my mind set to the amazing artwork of "pietà" -mercy-, mother full of suffering, created from the white belly of the Apuan Alps and the genius of a man, I cannot help but reflect on the marble, son with joy and pain of another mother, Nature. 
Turning our gaze elsewhere is important to notice the extraordinary beauty of a mountain in our area, which in the distant past the Apuan Ligurians worshiped to the point of calling it "Sagro " sacred. 

The journey that I propose, in the midst of its wonders, it also aims to present the shadows of the Alps, and to open to tourists aware of and sensitive to environmental issues, a clear horizon of what is happening today to our beloved, pure stone.

The path of a morning, of medium difficulty,it goes to a height of about 300 meters.

Requests appropriate footwear (sturdy hiking boots) and enough water in your backpack (you can also go to the country Colonnata).

Possible combination with the afternoon   visit to the marble quarries  , or the country of Colonnata tasting lard, etc ...

Possibility of dining in the nearby restaurants (the return path).

For those who want to watch from the quarries of Mount Sagro, and has a good strength to walk, you can have lunch bag in the residential area of ​​Verghetto and continue the path. The spectacular panorama fully repays the effort.

"Vedutisti" Landscape painters in Massa Carrara

"Vedutisti" Landscape painters in Massa Carrara

 On the trail of the masterpieces of landscape painters inspired by the places of our province.

Itinerary certainly original and innovative that wants to analyze a piece of local art history rarely told: the one related to famous personalities such as Ernst Fries, Bontemps, Fontanesi, Nicolaj Nicolaevic  and many others who fell in love with our area and painted canvas of indescribable wonder- known all over the world-to express the rare beauty of our area. 
A tour this, designed for enthusiasts of art and design -such as students of landscape painting, landscape artists "in their own way" or students of art schools or members of particular courses / clubs related to painting, to 'architecture-which aims to retrace the places that in 1800 have inspired famous painters and architects who stayed in our area. A modern retrace, of the artistic Grand Tours  of 1800.

For example in proposing a visit to the Castello Malaspina di Massa,it  will be really fascinating to introduce the same castle from the point of view of these landscapers who have represented it in the past, allowing the observation of the castle from the vantage point that gave birth to the paintings and subsequently lead a guided tour that explains the actual history of the Castle. It is an analysis of the place that you could go to paint-privately or in groups during the same visit-following in the footsteps of the greats. And 'therefore it is a must dwell on the history and works of these celebrated artists who have represented our area so incredibly.

The same kind of artistic analysis of the territory is also applicable to a visit in Carrara marble quarries, where it would be possible to analyze with different eyes these places of marble, through the study of these incredible pictorial representations of our territory unique characteristics .

MALASPINA CASTLE OF MASSA: THE CASTLE THAT LOOKS AT THE SEA

MALASPINA CASTLE OF MASS:  THE CASTLE THAT LOOKS AT THE SEA 

From the 'top of a rocky hill, since over a thousand years, the castle of Malaspina of Massa admires the seaside,enjoying the view.Its strongwallsheld away pirates and enemies for centuries and the mighty city walls defended the area.Later, the city grew around it.

The pilgrim in his journey to Rome, Jerusalem or Santiago, looking  at this demontration of force could not imagine that it hid an amazing secret. 
Indeed, in its heart of raw stone,the Castle hides and protects an unexpected gem: the Renaissance residence of the Malaspina, where  under the sun, the moon or the spotlight,white marbles from Carrara shine and reveal Renaissance paintings of incredible value and historical significance.

 So at night, when the vastness of the sea sinks into the darkness, like a big diamond the castle keeps on shining, and dominating the scenery of the city that sleeps. In the shadows of the "loggia" of white pillars, behind the windows framed in finely carved marble, the spirit of the Marquise Ricciarda misses the luxuries of her court, attended by popes and cardinals, and waits for revealing to the curious tourist the mystery of her fascinating life .

Representation of Ricciarda-The Marchioness of Massa, who loved power more than anything else:

CASTEL DELL'AQUILA, Castle of Eagles:

 the mystery of the knight and family crimes

From the 'top of a hill, the silhouette of the castle overlooking the valley rules the area just like the nest of a bird of prey. The Bulding seems to gain control on those who want to visit this place also through the difficult narrow street that you need to travel to get there. A street that opens like a wound in the dense forests that change color with the seasons.  

A place, this, forgotten and rediscovered! Only recently it became free of the  excruciating embrace of 'ivy and brambles that suffocated it.

It is now fully restored, high , beautiful and powerful. Today, the castle again raises its ramparts towards the sky, thanks to the work of the castle keeper ,who brought it back to the original value.  

Among these ancient walls, under the impressive vaulted ceilings, the Marquis Leonardo and Galeotto plotted to kill their cousins ​​in order to take possession of their land, but this is not the only criminal act of which the castle has been a witness. 









Deep under the ground, another body was hidden, and found after seven centuries of sleep, a knight, betrayed and killed by an arrow ...

Suitable visit to anyone who wants to imagine how a dark and mysterious medieval castle,difficult to reach could really be.
Castel dell'Aquila really has that incredible atmosphere that we could meet in adventure  stories, where the castles were, on stormy nights, a place of fortune for wandering travelers who could find themselves to be guests or prisoners according to the clemency of the mysterious master. 

The castle offers tourists these kind of feelings and all of this happens surrounded by the spectacular "wolves" forests  of Lunigiana.
Follow your guide on this journey into the past. 










Castle Site :  http://www.castellodellaquila.it/castelloaquila/ 

Lunigiana: Valley of Castles,Verrucola and Gragnola

This is not a painting, is the splendid Castle of Verrucola, precious little village near Fivizzano that appears trapped in a spell ... Here, in fact Time seems to have stopped: the inhabitants are rare to see and a gentle comforting silence chases the tourist as he's walking the streets of this ancient town. The castle was the scene of many historical events, one of the most famous was  a terrible tragedy that changed the fortunes of the historiacl land of Lunigiana .The castle is open on Fridays from 15.00 to 17.00.

Dante in Lunigiana

The presence of Dante in Lunigiana is connected to the relationship between the poet and the familyMalaspina: in fact on their behalf, Dante signed the peace of Sarzana in 1306 with the Bishop of Luni.During his stay in Lunigiana, Dante found exquisite hospitality at the Malaspina Castle in Mulazzo, enough to mention them and honor them in the Divine Comedy.Today in the fourteenth-century tower of Mulazzo there is a museum dedicated to Dante and in the town itself there is an atmosphere full of references to the great poet.

This route invites tourists to relive the steps of Dante in Lunigiana, citing episodes from the Divine Comedy related to the area.This is a chance to give a  more intimate look at the myth of Dante, seeing what may have inspired him to write such an extraordinary work. The visit certainly starts with the village of Mulazzo and goes on with Pontremoli (citing the episode of Pier delle Vigne.) At the discretion of the client you could also choose to go to Villafranca or Filetto (possible "Selva Oscura"), up to a visit the Carrara marble quarries, speaking   of the figure of the magician Aronte, whom, according to Dante, resided precisely in the Apuan Alps. 

Michelangelo in Carrara

MICHELANGELO IN CARRARA
A fascinating visit which follows the footsteps of the great artist in the city of Carrara and looks at  his research of truth in the art of sculpture, that took him to the Carrara quarries in order to choose personally the material he mainly used: marble. 
All of this is accompanied by the spectacular views of the Apuan Alps that mysteriously combine art, work, nature and antiquities.Follow me for an nforgettable day.

Proposed Itinerary:
9.00 am: Meeting at the exit of Carrara Highroad and visit to local sculpture studio to understand the comparison between the ancient and modern techniques. 
11.00 am We head towards the center of Carrara to admire the use of marble at the local level and discover the location of the house Michelangelo used to stay in. 
12.30 pm Lunch break at Carrara in the center (or, if you like,  transfer for lunch at Colonnata, an ancient town known for the local specialty of Lard) 
15.00/15.30 Hours: Guided tour to the three marble quarries of Carrara, up to the Michelangelo quarry where,of course, the great sculptor used to seek his favorite marble called "statuary" 
17.45: Return .