the local area
Bagnone
One of the most picturesque and unspoilt small towns in North Tuscany, Bagnone literally means “Big Bath” so-called after the natural basin around the mountain river that tumbles under the bridge and through a rocky ravine behind the main street. The local shops are well stocked and friendly and you can indeed survive your stay without shopping anywhere else. As is typical in so much of Italy there is the almost permanent group of old men drinking coffee and putting the world to rights in the square, which also contains two cafés and a pleasant pizzeria. The old town of Bagnone Castello looks down from the hill top onto the larger main town of Bagnone. Behind the town the Appenines soar to 2000 metres and provide a beautiful backdrop at any time of year.
Sarzana
One of the “Malaspina” towns founded in the middle ages when an order of Knights of that name ruled Lunigiana, Sarzana has a fine restored castle overlooking the town. This is a great place to experience the famous Italian “passegiata” when families and friends walk together in the early evening, from around 7pm, just strolling, talking and enjoying traditional drinks and accompaniments. The many charming little shops stay open well into the evening providing an excellent choice, including of course the ubiquitous Italian shoe shops! Best place to park is down by the station which is about 100 yards from the pedestrianised shopping streets of the “Centro Storico”. There is always room in the evening, and it’s inexpensive.
the towns
Villafranca:
Villafranca means “free town” and the town was one of the
stopping off point for pilgrims in the Middle Ages en route
from Canterbury to Rome. There is a train station here, now
called Villafranca-Bagnone from where you can get through-trains to Le Cinque Terre, La Spezia and even Florence, Pisa and Genoa. Check the timetables for up to date departure times. Regional trains in Italy are very cheap and for visiting the little resorts along Le Cinque Terre in high season the train is the only sensible option. Note that the full name of the town is Villafranca In Lunigiana, as there is another place called Villafranca so be careful if you’re intending to book train tickets online through the Trenitalia web site, or you’ll end up somewhere completely different! There is also a large municipal swimming pool in Villafranca.