The best traffic-free bike rides around Rocchetta Di Vara

small village but very suggestive and picturesque to pass by bicycle

The name Calice al Cornoviglio combines two distinctive elements of the village: "Calice," of uncertain origin but perhaps derived from the Latin calix (cup), referring to the site's concave shape, and "Cornoviglio," the mountain (561 m) that overlooks the village and lends its name to the entire ridge. This toponym appears in medieval documents and recalls the village's ancient connection with the surrounding Apennine territory. Calice was long ruled by the Malaspina dello Spino Secco family, who built a strategic castle there, documented since the 11th century and modified several times over the centuries. Today, the fortress houses the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art and the Chestnut Documentation Center, two testimonies to the profound intertwining of history, spirituality, and the territory's resources. A short distance away is the parish church of Santa Maria Lauretana, an elegant 18th-century Baroque building with exquisite decorations and a polychrome marble high altar. The village comes alive throughout the year with traditional events such as the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto (September), the Chestnut Festival (October) and various summer festivals, which highlight the historical and cultural roots of the place.

During the Second World War, the Pra Bon area, located in the mountainous territory of the Municipality of Zeri (Massa-Carrara), played a strategic role in the supply network organized by the Allies for the partisan formations active in the Ligurian-Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The location, a high grassy expanse located near the Foce di Prabono, was used as a launch field for materials intended for the liberation struggle. Due to its isolated position, difficult to access by land but visible from the sky and large enough to receive airdrops, Pra Bon was ideal for this purpose. Allied aircraft — generally taking off from southern Italy or from bases in Corsica — carried out night airdrops of weapons, ammunition, food, medicines and radio equipment intended for the partisan detachments operating in the area. The materials were parachuted and collected on site by the partisan brigades, who then took care of their distribution and protection. The operations were not without risks. The area was subject to continuous roundups by Nazi-Fascist forces, aware of the logistical importance of those places. In particular, on August 3, 1944, near the nearby Monte Picchiara, a violent clash took place between partisan forces and German troops during one of these roundups. The toponym "Pra Bon" or "Pra Bono", which means "good meadow" in the local dialect, still evokes the memory of that period: from a place of transhumance and summer pasture, it was transformed for a few crucial months into a clandestine hub of the Resistance, a meeting point between the mountains of Lunigiana and the liberated skies.

Village historically linked to the tradition of transhumance The ancient village of Noce is one of the first villages you encounter when entering the Zeri Valleys. In ancient times, the village of Noce was completely rural, historically linked to the work of shepherds and with them to the beautiful tradition of transhumance towards the town of Formentara. This took place through the ancient road called "Trianara", recently restored. During the Second World War, the village of Noce suffered a terrible roundup, during which almost the entire village was burned down. Today, the current village is very different from the original, which in ancient times was built almost entirely of stone arches and vaults.

Here the dirt road runs along the ridge of the mountains between the Vara Valley and the Magra Valley

The Ponte della Cresa is a stone bridge built in the 14th century and despite the frequent flooding of the Verde river, it has maintained its original structure to this day. The bridge connects the new neighborhoods with the historic center. The bridge is located along the Verde river near Porta San Francesco. Under the arch of this bridge, on January 31, the characteristic fire of San Geminiano takes place. The Ponte della Cresa is considered by many to be the true symbol of the city of Pontremoli. It is also interesting to note that the name Pontremoli derives from the Latin 'Pons Tremulus', which means 'unsafe bridge'. This was a term used to describe the original conurbation of the city.

Entrance to Pontremoli from Porta San Francesco

Beautiful path along the river to enjoy nature and relax