The best traffic-free bike rides around Sarzana

The church of Sant'Andrea, an ancient rural parish belonging to the Diocese of Luni, can be considered the surviving monument richest in historical evidence connecting ancient Sarzana with the formation of the new city and new villages. It stands, in fact, at the confluence of the two main roads that crossed the territory, the Aurelia and the Clodia. The Pieve is certainly the monument that preserves the greatest number of historical and architectural testimonies of medieval Sarzana. The first document that speaks of it dates back to the 12th century; in fact, in 1137, it was chosen by Bishop Gotifredo of Luni as the seat of the diocesan Synod. Subsequently, it was mentioned in 1153, in a bull of Pope Anastasius IV as a baptismal pieve and remained so even after the transfer of the episcopal see, in 1201, from Luni to Sarzana. As it has come down to us, the church does not reflect its original conformation, which was probably of much more modest dimensions.

Aulla's new cycle-pedestrian track is built on the route of the former Pontremolese railway, of which a first section of 665 meters has been inaugurated (part of an overall route of over 1.2 km). Route characteristics Route: Built in place of the old wall of the disused railway. Dimensions: 3.50 meters wide, with a double cycle lane and a dedicated pedestrian path. Lighting: Fully lit for the entire inaugurated section. Connections: It integrates into the green routes of Lunigiana and into sections near the Via Francigena cycle route and the Greenway of the River Magra. You can find detailed maps and tracks of the surroundings on the guide to cycle routes in Aulla on Komoot.

The new cycle-pedestrian track of Aulla is built on the route of the former Pontremolese railway, of which a first section of 665 meters has been inaugurated (part of an overall route of over 1.2 km). Route characteristics Route: Built on the site of the old wall of the disused railway. Dimensions: 3.50 meters wide, with a double cycle lane and a dedicated pedestrian path. Lighting: Fully illuminated for the entire inaugurated section. Connections: It connects to the green routes of Lunigiana and to the sections near the Via Francigena cycle path and the Greenway of the River Magra. You can find maps and detailed tracks of the surroundings on the Aulla cycle path guide on Komoot.

The Lunense Canal cycle-pedestrian path in Sarzana is a flat and easy route of about 12-20 km that follows the banks of the historic irrigation canal through the Val di Magra. Route Characteristics Length: Approximately 12 km in the main section of the park (extendable up to almost 20-25 km in total from Santo Stefano di Magra to Luni). Difficulty: Easy and flat, suitable for everyone on foot or by bicycle. Municipalities crossed: Santo Stefano di Magra, Sarzana, Castelnuovo Magra, Fosdinovo, and Luni. Surface: Mixed, with paved sections, dirt tracks, and short interruptions on ordinary roads in the Sarzana area. What to See Countryside and nature: The route winds through cultivated fields, small rural bridges, and the typical vegetation of the valley. Engineering history: It runs alongside the Lunense Canal, an important hydraulic work inaugurated in 1930. Connections: The route easily connects to the Via Francigena and other local itineraries

The Citadel, also known as the Sarzana Fortress or Firmafede Fortress, was the first fortification in Sarzana, built in the 13th century. It was owned by the lord Castruccio Castracani, who made numerous significant modifications to its defenses. After its destruction by Florence in 1487, it was rebuilt on the orders of Lorenzo de' Medici. In 1494, the Republic of Genoa, having regained possession of Sarzana, completed work on the Citadel. The fortress is used as a venue for cultural events and exhibitions and also houses the Fortress Museum, an interactive exhibit that traces the history of Sarzana and the Lunigiana region.

Of the five gates that once provided access to the town, Porta Romana and Porta Parma remain on the opposite side. We are on the ancient Via Romea, and today's Via Mazzini is a vestige of it. Its current appearance, clad in white Carrara marble, dates back to 1783; on the exterior is the coat of arms of Genoa and, higher up, a statue of Mary.

The Church of Sant'Andrea, an ancient rural parish church belonging to the Diocese of Luni, can be considered the surviving monument richest in historical evidence linking ancient Sarzana with the formation of the new city and its villages. It stands at the confluence of the two main roads that, around 1000 BC, crossed the area: the Aurelia and the Clodia. (c) https://visitsarzana.it/attrazioni/pieve-di-santandrea/

The church of San Francesco and the convent of the same name stand in the square just outside the walls of Sarzana. According to tradition, it was Saint Francis himself who founded them upon his visit to the town. The first document attesting to the presence of a Franciscan community above the village dates back to 1238, but it was only towards the end of the 13th century that a larger convent and the current church were built. In the 15th century, the building was expanded with the addition of a dormitory and cloister. Today, the convent is deconsecrated and its premises house the offices of the Sarzana court. (c) https://visitsarzana.it/attrazioni/chiesa-e-convento-san-francesco/