This Is Certainly one of Italy’s Greatest-kept Secrets and techniques — and It is the Birthplace of the ‘Earliest Recorded Pasta’

Now we have combined emotions writing about Pontremoli, the town our household has referred to as residence for 250 years. We’re torn between protecting our well-kept secret and sharing it with others. However the meals is just too good and the tradition too wealthy to not unfold the phrase.

Pontremoli — located in Lunigiana, a area on the intersection of northern Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Liguria — has a wealthy heritage relationship again to the Center Ages. Right now, its historic significance is obvious in its architectural landmarks, together with the spectacular Piagnaro Citadel, the majestic Cathedral, and quite a few palazzos.

Often known as the “door of Tuscany,” Pontremoli has additionally been a significant middle of commerce for hundreds of years. Guests will discover specialty merchandise right here, like PDO-status olive oil and chestnut honey, and eating places give attention to elements sourced solely from close by producers.

With widespread locations like Milan, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Parma, and the Italian Riviera all simply accessible by prepare or a brief drive, Pontremoli is a perfect base for exploring the area. Here is learn how to plan a memorable journey.

The place to Keep

Cà Del Moro Resort

Cà Del Moro is a tranquil retreat, with meadows of historical olive, cypress, and chestnut timber. One facet is bordered by the gently flowing Magra River and gorgeous views of the Apennine mountain vary are seen from each angle. The property, solely a 25-minute stroll to the middle of Pontremoli, homes 26 rooms, two eating places, a pool, a golf course, and a wellness middle. Breakfast is a spotlight, that includes an array of contemporary fruit, pastries, bread, cheeses, salamis, yogurt, jams, and native specialties, together with plum crostata (pie) and chestnut honey.

Villa la Cartiera

Set in manicured gardens and tucked behind decorative iron gates, this 1800s mansion is a brief stroll from Pontremoli’s middle. Traditionally, its grounds hosted a paper mill and an ice manufacturing unit, now repurposed as exhibition areas. The villa has 9 bedrooms, 4 loos, a library, and lounges adorned with vintage work and furnishings. The gardens are a tranquil place to calm down, and there is a distinctive pool fed by the Magra River. Regardless of its luxurious choices, Villa la Cartiera stays welcoming, with heat hospitality from proprietor Emanuele Del Signore and supervisor Marta Franciosi. 

Costa d’Orsola

Agriturismi, or farm stays, are widespread in Europe, and Costa d’Orsola — nestled within the hills above Pontremoli — is a picturesque selection. Along with fascinating views of the Magra Valley and Apennine Mountains, the property gives 14 distinct rooms, a swimming pool, a tennis court docket, and olive groves. Eating right here consists of conventional native specialties, making certain a pleasant culinary expertise.

La Casa Medievale

An unassuming door set on a slim, winding road main as much as the Castello del Piagnaro hides La Casa Medievale, an historical stone residence-turned-hotel. Inside, 4 spacious suites, every uniquely designed, span a number of ranges and supply trendy facilities. One other standout function? The spa, which is ready inside a grotto created from the residing rock of the Piagnaro hills.

The place to Eat

Osteria da Bussé 1930

Osteria da Bussé has been a part of the city’s identification for greater than 90 years, and it honors Pontremoli’s wealthy culinary heritage with a recent twist. The menu is a celebration of native flavors and elements, with meat and fish dishes showcasing the area’s bounty. You’ll discover native river trout, tender duck breast, hearty oxtail, succulent lamb, and wild boar, every ready with care and precision. The pasta, created from scratch, is a spotlight, delicately flavored with elements like ricotta, sage, and parmesan. The atmosphere at right here is discreet and chic, and the employees’s enthusiasm for the menu is real and infectious. Including to its attraction, Osteria da Bussé is understood for crafting distinctive liquors, with regional flavors that embrace porcini mushrooms and aniseed.

La Caverna dei Nani

Within the coronary heart of Pontremoli, La Caverna dei Nani (or “Cave of the Dwarves”) is tucked in a captivating, historic cellar that mixes a country atmosphere with a ardour for craft brewing. On heat days, dine exterior within the beautiful backyard, which gives picturesque views of the Verde stream. Guests are handled to a powerful collection of expertly brewed beers, every completely paired with hamburgers created from high-quality beef sourced from Tuscany’s Chiana Valley.

Pizzeria San Giorgio

Not removed from the center of Pontremoli, and adjoining to the Romanesque chapel of San Giorgio, lies a pizzeria that appears to seem as if by magic. Opened in 1983, it is a cherished eating vacation spot for each locals and vacationers coming from throughout Europe. The menu celebrates the area’s culinary heritage with dishes like testaroli with pesto sauce, veal with porcini mushrooms, contemporary seafood, and 30 styles of pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. In the summertime, company can dine in a flower-filled backyard with a playground for youngsters.

Trattoria Norina

Nestled in a centuries-old constructing alongside a slim alleyway, Norina gives a quintessential trattoria expertise that transports diners again in time. This hidden gem serves beautiful native delicacies that mirrors the altering seasons. With no printed menus or English spoken, the choices change every day, making certain every go to is a novel expertise. The summer season terrace gives a surprising view of the Magra River. Should-order dishes (that you would be able to solely discover in Pontremoli) embrace patona, a standard chestnut flour bread paired with creamy ricotta, tordelli, a sort of ravioli individually full of spinach and garnished with meat ragù, and torta d’erbe, a savory pie full of herbs, greens, and greens.

Osteria Della Bietola

In Italian, osteria refers to a country institution the place wonderful wine is served and accompanied by easy but well-prepared dishes. These eateries emphasize high quality elements and simple preparation, providing a heat, unpretentious eating expertise. In Pontremoli, Osteria della Bietola exemplifies this custom. Housed in a centuries-old constructing with stone arched ceilings, the house exudes a attraction that makes you are feeling like you’re eating with household at residence. The ambiance is purpose sufficient to spend a night right here, although specialties like testaroli cacio e pepe and tagliatelle with white truffles seal the deal.

Caffè e Antica Pasticceria degli Svizzeri

This cafe in Pontremoli is a real emblem of custom and style. The signal exterior, unchanged since 1925, invitations guests to attempt specialties just like the traditional spongata, a pastry full of dried and candied fruits, cocoa, and spices, and amor, made from two crisp wafers and full of cream. Different delights embrace almond cake, nougat with native honey, morning brioches, and chocolate pralines with marzipan and walnuts. A deal with right here — whether or not a cappuccino, an Aperol spritz, or a post-dinner gelato — is made much more particular by the charming out of doors tables beneath Pontremoli’s illuminated bell tower.

What to See and Do

Go to Piagnaro Citadel.

Take a scenic stroll by the cobblestone streets to Piagnaro Citadel, a well-preserved defensive fort from the yr 1000. The fort can also be residence to the Museum of Lunigiana Stele Statues, that includes anthropomorphic sculptures of mysterious origin relationship from the Copper Age to the Roman period.

Admire the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Within the coronary heart of Pontremoli stands the Duomo, also called the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. It was designed by Alessandro Capra of Cremona within the seventeenth century. Inside, you’ll discover the city’s most sacred object — a wood statue of the Madonna del Popolo, a Thirteenth-century icon portrayed as a Black Madonna.

Try Teatro della Rosa.

The gorgeous Teatro della Rosa, a efficiency artwork venue constructed by 25 noble households, is among the most vital symbols of 18th-century Pontremoli, and it is the oldest theater of its form within the Apuan space.

Time your journey with Medievalis.

Through the Medievalis pageant in August, Pontremoli transforms right into a medieval utopia. Town goes car-free for 5 days, permitting vacationers, retailers, carriages, and knights to carry the Center Ages again to life. Within the night, fireplace dancers, jesters, and musicians take to the streets with spectacular performances.

Get out in nature.

Go to one of many many small freshwater lakes that run by Pontremoli. These serene spots, usually reached by a brief trek, are surrounded by chestnut and willow timber. You may even take a refreshing dip on a heat day.

Discover the market.

Pontremoli’s out of doors market units up in Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza del Duomo on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Stalls brim with native produce and different meals, creating a colourful scene. You could find wheels of parmesan, jars of chestnut honey, dried porcini mushrooms, and extra. It’s an ideal place to immerse your self within the area’s flavors and take residence a chunk of Pontremoli.

Palazzo Dosi Magnavacca, a surprising Baroque residence within the historic middle, was constructed between 1742 and 1749 on the behest of the Dosi household, a distinguished lineage of Po Valley retailers who rose to the rank of marquises. The class and grandeur of its design replicate the wealth and affect of the Dosi household, and the palazzo stays a testomony to their legacy.

Find out how to Get There

In case you are flying from the U.S., we suggest arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport. You may hire a automobile, drive to Pontremoli, or take a prepare from Milano Centrale. Trenitalia and Italo trains serve Pontremoli, and the station is inside strolling distance of the city middle. If you happen to’re touring inside Italy and Europe, the closest airports to Pontremoli are Pisa Worldwide Airport and Florence Airport, the place automobile and rail companies are additionally out there.