Montereggio, the Cantamaggio and the History of the Booksellers
The Village of Montereggio is located in the municipality of Mulazzo, about 14 kilometers from the town of the same name. It was built in a strategic position for dual control: on one side, the Valley of the Mangiola Stream, and on the other, the Casoni Pass, which in ancient times connected Liguria with the Valley of the Magra River and the Via Francigena.
In the Vatican Museums, there is an ancient map where the Village of Montereggio is also depicted. This document highlights the strategic importance of the village even in ancient times.
The village of Montereggio is particularly well known for two reasons: historically, as a town of itinerant booksellers, and more recently, for its tradition of May singers. The latter tradition began in the 1950s and is still proudly carried on by the local residents. According to tradition, between April 30 and May 1, the so-called “maggianti” go from house to house along the village streets, singing to celebrate May and the arrival of spring.
Travel curiosities
The history of the village of Montereggio has been tied to booksellers since the 1500s. From the 16th century up until the early 1900s, Montereggio was known as the homeland of itinerant booksellers. The men of the village would leave at the beginning of the warm season with a traditional gerla (a type of basket similar to those used today for mushroom picking) full of books. Once they reached the town of Pontremoli, they would continue their journey toward the Pianura Padana, where they would travel far and wide in search of new books to purchase and to sell those they had brought from Lunigiana. Their journey would last throughout the summer, and they would finally return home only with the arrival of winter.
Even though many of Montereggio’s booksellers could not read, they were well aware of the importance of books. Among the volumes they offered were almanacs, lunar calendars, and often even “forbidden” books, which they circulated across the various states they passed through.
How to Reach the Village of Montereggio
Reach the town of Mulazzo, pass under the arches and turn left, following the signs for Montereggio-Parana. At the junction, turn right toward Montereggio. Follow the road until you reach the village.
Nearby you can find
The Village of Mulazzo, Danteque Lunigiana Museum, Malaspina Archive Museum, Mulazzo Route – Ciclovia dei Castelli, Castello di Castevoli, Santuario della Madonna del Monte, Groppa Bridge, Cascate di Parana.
Lunigiana World thanks our friend Paolo Bissoli for the text about the village of Montereggio.
