CNA - Exploring the heritage, tastes, and timeless charm

Visit to Carrara, a UNESCO Creative City. We will explore its squares and the white marble Cathedral of St. Andrew. The itinerary continues with an exclusive visit to the Academy of Fine Arts, a prestigious institution where artists and sculptors from all over the world are trained.

Next, we will enter a sculpture workshop to discover up close the techniques and secrets of marble working, the symbolic material of the city.

Transfer to Massa for lunch at a traditional local restaurant, followed by a visit to Villa della Rinchiostra, built in the late 17th century by order of Princess Teresa Pamphili as a rural residence for the Cybo Malaspina family. Today the villa houses the Gigi Guadagnucci Museum, which holds 46 sculptures by the artist from Massa.

After breakfast, guided tour of the historic center of Pontremoli, a gem of Lunigiana. This town, historically a borderland, was described by Frederick II as the only key and gateway to the Apennines. It developed along the Via Francigena, offering a succession of medieval and baroque views.

The tour begins at the Museum of the Stele Statues, home to evocative prehistoric sandstone figures, located within the Castle of Piagnaro. The visit continues with a walk through the bridges and squares of the village, with optional tasting stops at traditional shops in the historic center.

An activity is also planned at an artisan workshop specialized in chair caning and antique furniture restoration, to discover the most authentic traditions of Lunigiana. Lunch with typical local products.

In the afternoon, transfer to the small village of Scorano, near Pontremoli, to visit one of the hidden gems of the area: the garden of Villa Pavesi Negri Baldini, a historic residence affiliated with ADSI (Italian Association of Historic Houses). Designed in the early 18th century by architect Giovan Battista Natali, this small baroque garden is a treasure trove of beauty, secrets, and wonder.

A short distance from the garden, we will visit the Testarolando company, which produces artisan testarolo following traditional cooking methods using cast-iron pans (testi).

After breakfast, transfer to visit Pallerone Castle, a historic residence affiliated with ADSI, transformed in the 17th century into a lavish noble residence and marquis seat. Now owned by the Malatesta family, the building preserves a cycle of frescoes inspired by classical mythology and a hanging garden featuring the characteristic Ligurian risseau mosaic, recently restored.

The tour continues in Fivizzano with a visit to the historic center, including Piazza Medicea, the Church of Saints James and Anthony, and the complex of the former Augustinian Convent, now housing the Civic Library and local museums.

Afterward, stop at the historic Farmacia Clementi to taste China, a liqueur created in 1884 by Dr. Giuseppe Clementi, a renowned botanist.

Lunch at your leisure.