The “I Chiosi”
B&B is located in Montale, a small hamlet part of the
Comano municipality (Massa-Carrara, Tuscany), which
features a mountainous-hilly landscape. Traversed by the
Taverone River and by its affluent streams, the landscape
is particularly attractive to visitors thanks to its lush
natural beauty, disseminated with vast woods, chestnut
groves and terraced fields providing a backdrop to the
historical suggestions of its castles, fortresses,
Romanesque parish, ancient rural villages, mule tracks and
wonderful water-mills. Situated at altitudes ranging from
300 to1904 metres, Comano is one of the highest altitude
municipalities in the National Park of the Apennines. Here
visitors find the highest mountains, ideal for lovers of
suggestive views and trekking.
Following the CAI and Trekking
Lunigiana paths it is in fact possible to reach high
altitude vantage points such as the Monte Acuto, the Monte
Alto and the Monte Bufanaro. As the years go by, tourism is
replacing the more traditional rural activities, such as
farming and chestnut cultivation. Comano with its Apennine
location effectively offers many excursion opportunities
and represents an ideal area for trekking both on foot and
on horseback. In fact, horse breeding is a common local
activity. During the third week of September it’s
worth to investigate the traditional Horse-Fair in which
hundreds of horses are put on show.
All the
hamlets of the municipality feature medieval centres with a
special charm and a story to tell: in Crespiano
it is possible to
visit the ancient Parish in the Lombard Romanesque style,
which dates back earlier than the XI century. In
Castello,
on an elevated spot
dominating the valley, there is a wonderful
intact tower, crowned by battlements. Only ruins remain
today of the Groppo S.
Pietro Castle, nevertheless the location
offers a stunning view. In the ancient villages of
Torsana
and
Camporaghena,
probably the highest in the Park, at an altitude of 900
metres and immersed in a lush natural environment, visitors
can admire wonderful stone hand-made objects, architraves,
decorated portals, decorations, but also grotesque figures
intended for the protection of the household. The local
gastronomy also holds an attraction for tourists. In fact,
in the local restaurants it is possible to sample the
simple cuisine of old, which makes use of all the local
ingredients, such as chestnuts and mushrooms.
From
Comano many interesting destinations
in Lunigiana are within easy reach. Extending beyond the
Apuan Alps, Lunigiana, which takes its name after “la
luna”, the moon, is a magnificent land rich in
history and traditions. The medieval itineraries of the Via
Francigena crisscross the Lunigiana following the River
Magra and the Via del Sale across the Apennine passes to
Parma, Reggio Emilia and the Lucchesia. Here visitors can
follow the ancient communication routes, which represented
the main artery for commercial traffic and pilgrims, but
also for smugglers, between the Po Valley and the Coast.
Even today, everywhere in Lunigiana, numerous signs of its
ancient civilisation evoke life as it was in the past: the
austere shapes of dozens and dozens of castles, walled
medieval villages, fine urban buildings and villas, towers
and fortifications of all kinds, Romanesque parish
churches, and small country churches. “Stele”
statues and stone idols that date back to 2000 years B.C.
are the mysterious witnesses to this ancient
civilisation.
Places that
are worth a visit are: The Verrucola castle and the Medici
square in Fivizzano, the Romanesque church in Codiponte,
the medieval walled hamlet of Filetto, the church of Sorano
in Filattiera, the medieval town and the Piagnaro castle in
Pontremoli. Comano is also a short drive to the Tuscany and
Ligurian coast. The Massa Carrara province is in fact at
the heart of important tourist destinations such as the
Golfo dei Poeti, the Cinque Terre and Tuscany’s art
cities.
An extremely
suggestive panorama is provided by the Apuan Alps with
their quarries where the white marble has been extracted
ever since the time of the ancient Romans. Here sea and
land mingle in a spectacle of natural contrasts.
At the foot
of the marble mountains, the sea meets a sandy coastline
extending for miles. The tourist tradition of the Apuan
Riviera makes it possible to enjoy every comfort on beaches
where numerous well equipped resorts offer never ending
rows of deckchairs and sunshades.
