HK Independent Traveller Blog

  Ortonovo is a perched village with a view that sweeps over the Luni valley and surrounding hills, all dotted with vineyards and olive groves. In the background are the villages nearby, extensive plain, Magra river and sea. The origins of Ortonovo date back to the 11 th to 12 th centuries. The area was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Luni. It has changed a few times since 1333 and finally went under Genoa in 1495. The ancient town was protected by defensive walls and a castle. Today, the only remaining part of the castle is the Torre Guinigi (the Guinigi Tower ), an imposing 33 metre high structure. It becomes the campanile of the church of St. Lawrence (17th century). The photo below lets you have an idea of how the old castle looked like. Strolling around we saw some paintings of the village. Affection felt. The villagers love and respect their origins. To let the tourists know more about the places, signages / notices are here and there to deepen the understanding...

Massa is located in northwest Tuscany, on the western slopes of the Apuan Alps , about 5 km from the Ligurian Sea. The Malaspina Castle stands proudly on the hill. It can be viewed from any angle in the surrounding plain and its position offers outstanding panoramic views over the neighbouring land and sea. Massa is split into two distinct areas, eight kilometres apart from each other: the main area of the city lies inland in a slight elevated position while Marina di Massa is a seaside beach resort. We visited the historic centre on a freezing and rainy day in April 2024 and Marina di Massa, a few days later during a sunny afternoon after visiting the Orto Botanico delle Alpi Apuane Pietro Pellegrini. Massa is a city with ancient roots. At the well-preserved historic centre, you can still breathe the medieval atmosphere. We began our visit from the main square, Piazza Aranci , named after the two rows of orange trees that surround it on three sides.  On the eastern side stand...

  La Spezia is often seen as a transit point for the smaller, picturesque localities around it, yet it offers pleasant surprises: museums, the lively Via del Prione , the renovated Piazza Giuseppe Verdi and the Morin promenade, with its spectacular views of the gulf and the Apuan Alps (the mountain range is also known as Carrara marble).   It is quite typical to see lined up orange trees in Liguria towns. When we stepped out La Spezia Centrale Station, sweet orange fragrance appealed to us. The trees lined up next to the pavement. A nontragic and cosy welcome! We spent the next 3 sunny days in Cinque Terre , Portovenere , Lerici and Tellaro . The first sightseeing point in La Spezia is the San Giorgio Castle and its archeological museum .   The exhibits are from pre-history (as early as the Copper Age, i.e. the 4th millennium B.C. ) to the Middle Ages. It also contains an extensive display of Roman artefacts including objects excavated from the nearby Luni (a R...