Castelnuovo Magra

Castelnuovo Magra covers the last part of the alluvial plain of the river Magra, in that part of the province of La Spezia not far from the border of Tuscany; surrounded by a natural hill side setting, it looks at the Ligurian sea. The town of Castelnuovo is characterized by the continuous line of the village, bounded on one side by from the tower of the Bishop's Palace and on the other from the bell tower of the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. Political and religious capital for more than a century of the ancient dominion of the Bishop of Luni, Castelnuovo Magra preserves the magnificent ruins of the castle of the bishops dating back to the thirteen century and which can be viewed at the bottom of the square Querciola. In the castle, October 6, 1306, Dante Alighieri  signed a famous peace with the Bishop of Luni and the powerful Count Malaspina of Lunigiana, the peace that endes one hundred years of hostility and war.

The territory is crossed by the Pilgrins' Way. The  Pilgrins' Way an a historical itinerary, crossed by thousands of pilgrims on their way from Canterbury to Rome.

The typical dishes in Castelnuovo.

Castelnuovo local food is tied to the land. Grain products, vegetables, meat of poultry, are the ingredients bases, together with extra virgin olive oil produced by ancient plants. In the production of salami, mortadella and sausages as well as our own, stands out the Prosciutta. In the first courses there are the varieties of fresh pasta, stuffed and simple, also used in vegetables soups. There are pies with zucchini or artichockes. The desserts, such as rice cakes and chestnuts recipes are very old but still present in every home and restaurant.

Wines.

Castelnuovo Magra's hills are covered with vineyards and olive groves. For the climate is one of the first most important crops introduced in these lands , but not less important is in Castelnuovo the cultivation of the vine.

Erika