PONTREMOLI (230 mt a.s.l) was founded 2.000 years ago in the Roman Era, as military and strategic outpost along the way to the Northern Italy, to control the Cisa Pass on Apennine Mountains. The chosen place was at the confluence of two rivers (Verde and Magra), where the road crossed them with two bridges (Pons). After the fall of Roman Empire and up to the Middle Age, the road, named in that period "Via Francigena" (it means that leads to France), conserved its importance as one of the the main Pilgrim's routes to Rome. Of that period, the town conserves its medieval look, some Gates, towers and the panoramic Castle of Piagnaro, built on the hill dominating the town and the yet used medieval bridges.
All the historical centre has a medieval looking, full of characteristic houses, churches and streets, especially the ones that leads to the Castle. There are many cheap and good restaurants and you can buy a lot of typical local products: wooden cooked bread, sweets, chestnuts, local meet, ham and sausages, hand made pasta…..The local cuisine is also very interesting, with flat thin "testaroli" pasta, menus made with mushrooms, which grow thick on the ground in the woods of the Lunigiana's region and the chestnut flour which is made into ‘frittelle’, or fritters, while the cheeses and cold cuts made locally go perfectly with the genuine wines of the region.
Due to the low altitude and the nearness to the sea, winter is mild and summer is not too much hot: the nights are always fresh.
The last week of July there is The Book Fair (Premio Bancarella), with a lot of exhibitions, music and possibilities to appreciate local foods.
Pontremoli is well linked to Parma and La Spezia, by train (there is a railway station) and motor road (A15 Parma-La Spezia, with exit at Pontremoli). By air: Pisa airport (served by Ryan Air), Firenze airport, convenient train and bus connections.
It is possible to go to Cinque Terre's sea villages by train in one hour, starting from Pontremoli's Railways Station.
As far as fishing is concerned, the streams in this area abound with the famous fario trout; the fishing season goes from spring to late autumn. Not only rivers are good for this sport, though: part of the Lago Verde is as a sport-fishing venue, hosting some local and regional competitions.
All around, there are historical towns and touristic places, full of monuments, friendly people, good and genuine italian food at cheap prices. Only the most famous: Parma, La Spezia, Carrara, Pisa, Genoa.
But also the less famous one's are very interesting: Aulla, Filattiera, Mulazzo, Zeri.
Mediterranean Sea and its beaches are only 30-50 Km far away ( Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Versilia).
Air is good, due to the surrounding mountains (Apennines Mountains (1800 mt. a.s.l.) and to the woods, in wich you may walk, hike or look for mushrooms. The Gigante Regional Park is only 25 Km. far away
This is a vacation house, so we may exchange/rent it round year.
Our preferred destinations are, in order : Europe, other continents, touristic places in Italy. If your proposals don't meet our plans/destinations, you may also rent the house at cheap fares: ask for them.
Pets are not allowed (sorry). |
