Lunigiana and Pontremoli day trip from Lucca or Cinque Terre or Parma
A day trip to Lunigiana and Pontremoli from Lucca, the Cinque Terre or Parma: the ethnographic museum at Villafranca, the stone village of Bagnone, then Pontremoli's old town and cathedral, the prehistoric statue-stelae in the Castello del Piagnaro, and the Fortezza della Brunella above Aulla. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Lunigiana and Pontremoli in 1 day
Day 1
Museo Etnografico della Lunigiana (Villafranca)
Museum of rural life in old mills by the river at Villafranca in Lunigiana, with tools, costumes and crafts of the valley's farming past.
Historic centre of Bagnone (Piazza Roma)
Stone village below a castle, with an arcaded main square, Piazza Roma, and a stream rushing through a gorge beneath the houses.
Historic centre of Pontremoli (Piazza della Repubblica)
Long, narrow town between the Magra and Verde rivers, with old bridges, palazzi, the Campanone tower and lively Piazza della Repubblica.
Pontremoli Cathedral
17th-century Baroque cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in the heart of the old town, with a richly decorated interior.
Castello del Piagnaro and the Statue-Stele Museum
Medieval castle above the town, home to the museum of the Lunigiana statue-stelae, prehistoric stone figures carved with faces, arms and weapons.
Fortezza della Brunella (Aulla)
16th-century fortress on a hill above Aulla, with thick walls, views of the Magra valley and a natural history museum inside.
Watch: Lunigiana and Pontremoli
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is the practical way: from Lucca about 1 hour 15 on the motorways to the A15 exits at Aulla or Pontremoli, and from the Cinque Terre about 45 minutes to an hour via La Spezia. From Parma it is about an hour south over the Cisa pass on the A15. The Parma-La Spezia railway stops at Pontremoli, Villafranca and Aulla, but the villages in between need a car.
Staying in Lucca or Cinque Terre or Parma? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Lunigiana and Pontremoli
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, green in May and full of chestnuts and mushrooms in October; summer is warm but fresher than the coast. Winter is quiet and some sights open only at weekends. The Premio Bancarella in July brings writers and readers to Pontremoli.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Lunigiana and Pontremoli on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Lunigiana and Pontremoli on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Lunigiana and Pontremoli on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Lunigiana and Pontremoli
- Eat the valley's own dishes: testaroli with pesto, panigacci flatbreads with cured meats and soft cheese, and torta d'erbi, a vegetable pie.
- Opening times are short in the valley: the ethnographic museum and the Fortezza della Brunella may open only on some days, so check before going.
- The Castello del Piagnaro is a climb above Pontremoli; the statue-stelae inside are stone figures thousands of years old, found across the Lunigiana.
- The Premio Bancarella, a literary prize born from the travelling booksellers of nearby Montereggio, is awarded in Pontremoli each July.
- Bring a jacket outside summer: the valley lies in the Apennine foothills and mornings can be cool even when the coast is warm.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Castello del Piagnaro and the Statue-Stele Museum: Andrek02, CC0
- Historic centre of Bagnone (Piazza Roma): Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Pontremoli (Piazza della Repubblica): self, Public domain
- Pontremoli Cathedral: Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
