Excursions in the Apuan Riviera

The sea has a lot to offer, both in summer and in winter. The coast of the Apuan Riviera is full of bathing establishments and restaurants that are mostly open all year round, where you can have a lovely lunch even on a bright winter day. In addition to the classic beach leisure activities typical of the summer season, during every season a  sunny day is an excellent excuse for a long walk on the shoreline, breathing in the salty air, or rent a bicycle and walk along the seafront on the new Cinquale cycle path.

Do you love the mountains and walks immersed in greenery? Well, you are in the right place! For hiking enthusiasts, as well as for the more inexperienced, there are many mountainous and hilly paths you can follow to enjoy picnics or long walks. Among the best known is the route that goes from Campocecina to Sagro and the Via Vandelli, but there are also new paths such as the Cammino di Aronte. Take a horseback ride on Mount Brugiana or visit the naturalistic sites of Lake Porta and the Pian della Fioba Botanical Garden. These are the most popular activities, especially for families and children!
Additionally, you can go mountain biking thanks to the many itineraries both in the area of Brugiana and in the stretch from Pasquilio to Monte Folgorito.

The historic villages of the Riviera Apuana terra Scolpita allow us to make a real dive into the past. We can discover the traditions with walks and by tasting local cuisine, the flavours of cibo povero (simple cooking), and local customs. Among the narrow streets of Colonnata, a centuries-old village surrounded by Carrara quarries, you can enter the little stores and purchase lardo made in marble basins. In Antona, a village at the foot of the Apuan Alps on the Massese side, you can find tasty goat’s cheese and chestnut flour with which the famous frittelle di neccio are prepared. Moving to the hills of Candia, we can visit the wineries and enjoy tastings among the vines.

The fascinating castles and their stories are popular destinations for those who want to dive into culture. The Aghinolfi Castle in Montignoso and the Malaspina Castle in Massa tell us about the history of the Apuan Riviera, as well as museums such as the Carmi Museum in Carrara and the Guadagnucci Museum in Massa that looks at marble and its processing, joining the contempory with tradition. There are also many events, particularly in summer, as well as art-related and theatre events series such as the Convivere a Carrara Festival, not forgetting music, talks, prizes and concerts, such as the Mercurio D'Argento Prize, and the Cultural Festival at high altitude called Musica sulle Apuane, a music festival that takes place every summer involving trekking paths.

Moving to a more urban setting, Carrara, one of the UNESCO Creative Cities, has a lot to offer with its initiatives relating to marble and art. The Accademia di Belle Arti (Academy of Fine Arts) and artistic sculpture workshops are located here, visitable during the Carrara Studi Aperti exhibition, along with churches, piazzas and historic buildings that are open to the public for the occasion. In Massa, don't miss a visit to the beautiful Piazza Aranci that overlooks the Palazzo Ducale, so named for the rows of orange trees that surround it. The Duomo, Piazza Mercurio, and the streets and squares of the historic centre are perfect places to admire architecture and monuments, take a tour of the shops, or enjoy an aperitivo.

The privileged position of the Riviera Apuana Terra Scolpita also allows for an easy connection via the motorway with many Tuscan, Ligurian and Emilian cities, meaning that every point of interest is easily reachable in a short time.