Exposing The World

Sarzana and La Scurtarola

Fortress Town and Winery

Points of interest on the Tuscan mainland.

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Sarzana, fortified town

Sarzana is known for its marmoreal Cathedral, its tenth-century fortress and the church and monastery of San Francesco.

The cathedral…
This painted wooden cross was the work of Maestro Guglielmo in 1138
White Carrara marble and veined black Portoro marble…
Dante Alighieri lived here in his time of exile rom Florence
An exhibition of classic cars. Automotive manufacture is a specialty farther inland, in Torino.
The 13th-century Citadel of Sarzana, main defensive point of the region
Down in the grassed-over moat, a demonstration of medieval combat is underway
An unusual naked rendering of Garibaldi
Lunch in an upstairs restaurant in Sarzana. These are just the carry-out pastries.
THe arch at the end of the street is Sarzana’s other medieval gate

Fosdinovo: the Malaspina stronghold

The Malaspina Family was in medieval times one of most powerful clans in this region, controlling trade routes through Tuscany and Liguria.

Alessandro Malaspina, explorer who spent most of his life in the Spanish Navy, reached as far as Alaska to discover the world’s largest mountainglacier.

A Tuscan Winery

Pruning is an art in itself, and if done right a vine can last for over 100 years. Thirty years is the most common vigorous lifetime of a grapevine.

Late summer thunderheads building over the Apuan Alpss
Pruning offcuts aromatically kindle the fireplace
We help set toppings for the focaccia course
We dine on courses of skin-on roast pork and vegetables
We complete our program under a full Tuscan moon
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