Sarzana
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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The town of Sarzana is located within the Province of La Spezia and has a population of 22,104 inhabitants.
Covering an area of 34 km², it's situated on the Riviera di Levante, 106 kilometres south east of Genoa, the capital city of Liguria. The main attractions of Sarzana are the medieval fortress called La Cittadella, the cathedral and Piazza Matteotti. |
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Sarzana somewhat breaks the mould of the typical Ligurian town; mainly due its location around ten kilometres inland of the largely coastal region. The first written records of the town date back to the tenth century and a stroll around its colourful streets is like a walk through history with representations from the medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical eras.
The centrepiece of the town is the expansive Piazza Matteotti, lined with grand palazzi which house an abundance of shops. The beautiful square is the ideal place for a bite to eat with a number of bars and restaurants around its edges. The lower half of the Piazza is separated by the Palazzo Roderio which houses local government offices.
Sarzana's remaining highlights are all to be found to the east of Piazza Matteotti; a three minute walk down another shopping street, Via Mazzini eventually brings you to the 13th century Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta with its mixture of Romanesque and Gothic influences. A few extra paces beyond the Duomo lies another beautiful square: Piazza Garibaldi with its striking sculpture by Carlo Fontana in homage to the Risorgimento hero. The statue lies at the southern entrance to the Piazza which is lined with buildings in a variety of pastel shades overlooking tree-lined edges concealing bars and restaurants. At the top of the square is the 19th century Teatro Impavidi.
A few minutes' walk north of Piazza Garibaldi brings you to the church museum (Museo Diocesano di Sarzana), behind which some steps lead up to the elevated walkway around La Cittadella. The 15th century fortress is one of the most intact castles in Italy and a walk around its battlements provides a fascinating insight into the town's past.
The Magra River flows in a northerly direction just to the west of Sarzana, emptying into the Ligurian Sea at the town of Bocca di Magra and just a short distance beyond the river lies the regional border with Tuscany to the east. Sarzana does have a beach resort called Marinella di Sarzana but there are numerous seaside resorts that offer more on the western banks of the river.
From Bocca di Magra, the terrain rises sharply to a picturesque peninsula with the attractive village of Montemarcello the first you encounter. From here, the main road winds its way around country lanes before arriving at the major seaside town of Lerici. From Lerici, a coastal road splinters back in the direction of Sarzana to the beach at Fiascherino, followed by the gorgeous fishing village of Tellaro.
The main provincial city in the local area is La Spezia which can be reached from Sarzana by train in 13 minutes without stopping. La Spezia's train service is popular with tourists as it marks the eastern end of the rail line connecting each of the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre. Accommodation options in the famous coastal area are limited and/or expensive. As a consequence, many travellers decide to base themselves in either La Spezia or Levanto at the western end of the train line. The convenience of train travel between Sarzana and La Spezia combined with the welcoming climes of the town itself, makes this another viable option for any Cinque Terre exploration.
The centrepiece of the town is the expansive Piazza Matteotti, lined with grand palazzi which house an abundance of shops. The beautiful square is the ideal place for a bite to eat with a number of bars and restaurants around its edges. The lower half of the Piazza is separated by the Palazzo Roderio which houses local government offices.
Sarzana's remaining highlights are all to be found to the east of Piazza Matteotti; a three minute walk down another shopping street, Via Mazzini eventually brings you to the 13th century Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta with its mixture of Romanesque and Gothic influences. A few extra paces beyond the Duomo lies another beautiful square: Piazza Garibaldi with its striking sculpture by Carlo Fontana in homage to the Risorgimento hero. The statue lies at the southern entrance to the Piazza which is lined with buildings in a variety of pastel shades overlooking tree-lined edges concealing bars and restaurants. At the top of the square is the 19th century Teatro Impavidi.
A few minutes' walk north of Piazza Garibaldi brings you to the church museum (Museo Diocesano di Sarzana), behind which some steps lead up to the elevated walkway around La Cittadella. The 15th century fortress is one of the most intact castles in Italy and a walk around its battlements provides a fascinating insight into the town's past.
The Magra River flows in a northerly direction just to the west of Sarzana, emptying into the Ligurian Sea at the town of Bocca di Magra and just a short distance beyond the river lies the regional border with Tuscany to the east. Sarzana does have a beach resort called Marinella di Sarzana but there are numerous seaside resorts that offer more on the western banks of the river.
From Bocca di Magra, the terrain rises sharply to a picturesque peninsula with the attractive village of Montemarcello the first you encounter. From here, the main road winds its way around country lanes before arriving at the major seaside town of Lerici. From Lerici, a coastal road splinters back in the direction of Sarzana to the beach at Fiascherino, followed by the gorgeous fishing village of Tellaro.
The main provincial city in the local area is La Spezia which can be reached from Sarzana by train in 13 minutes without stopping. La Spezia's train service is popular with tourists as it marks the eastern end of the rail line connecting each of the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre. Accommodation options in the famous coastal area are limited and/or expensive. As a consequence, many travellers decide to base themselves in either La Spezia or Levanto at the western end of the train line. The convenience of train travel between Sarzana and La Spezia combined with the welcoming climes of the town itself, makes this another viable option for any Cinque Terre exploration.
Comune di Sarzana
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Province: La Spezia
Region: Liguria Population: 21,610 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 34 km² Elevation: 21 metres Highlights: La Cittadella, Sarzana Cathedral, Piazza Matteotti Close by: Vezzano Ligure, Lerici, Tellaro, Montemarcello Recommended hotel: Albergo La Luna |
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