The Ancient Gateway to Tuscany from Emilia-Romagna
Even before the year 1000, the oldest part of Pontremoli’s historic center began to occupy the space between the Piagnaro Hill, where the castle stands, and the confluence of the Magra River and the Verde Stream, which embrace the ancient village.
In 990, it was in Pontremoli that Archbishop Sigeric stopped during his return journey from Rome to Canterbury along the Via Francigena.
Thanks to its strategic position at the foot of the mountain passes, Pontremoli has always played the role of the “key and gateway to the Apennines”: whoever controlled the village controlled the passage between the north and south of the Italian Peninsula.
Even Frederick Barbarossa, who in 1167 found the gates of Pontremoli closed, had to resign himself to crossing the Apennines through more difficult routes.
A Free Municipality until the early 14th century but afflicted by conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, Pontremoli surrendered to the Lucchese captain Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli, who, put an end to end the bloody disputes, built the “Cacciaguerra” Curtain in 1322.
This was a tall stone wall erected between the two rivers, dividing the village, and its central civic tower, the “Campanone,” still remains today. The wall still exists, incorporated into the houses.
There was a single gateway in the curtain wall, through which the internal transit route of the village passed, between Porta Fiorentina and Porta Parma. Until the second half of the 19th century, there were no alternative routes, and merchants, pilgrims, armies, and emperors passed through here, bringing both wealth and hardship.
In June 1495, Swiss troops under Charles VIII set fire to the city. The blaze lasted three days, severely damaging homes and destroying all archives.
Coveted and contested for centuries, Pontremoli became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1650. Thanks to the local mercantile class, the city entered its most prosperous period, enriching itself with churches, palaces, and Baroque villas that still amaze visitors today.
Among the numerous medieval landmarks are the Piagnaro Castle, the fortress tower of Cacciaguerra (1322), the two Romanesque bridges over the Verde Stream (13th–14th century), the Castelnuovo Tower with its gateway defending the first bridge over the Magra River, and Porta Parmigiana.
After the brief Napoleonic period and before Italian unification, Pontremoli was part of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, establishing close ties with the Emilia region.
How to reach the Village of Pontremoli
From Aulla, follow the signs to Pontremoli. From Parma, take the Parma-La Spezia highway and exit at Pontremoli. Alternatively, from the province of Parma, follow the Cisa State Road. Also from the province of Parma, but coming from the municipality of Bosco di Corniglio, you can reach Pontremoli via the Cirone Pass.
Nearby you can find
The Cathedral of Pontremoli, Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, the Village of Cervara, the Village of Guinadi, Cascata Farfarà, Lago Verde, The Straits of Giaredo, entrance of the Via Francigena in Tuscany (First – Second and Third stage of the Via Francigena in Lunigiana), Passo del Cirone, Foresta del Brattello, La Serra di Mignegno, Le Piagnare, Lago Scagliolo, Cascata Piscio di Pracchiola, Ciclovia dei Castelli – Pontremoli route, the Villa Pavesi Negri-Baldini, the Pavesi – Ruschi Noceti Palace, the Villa Dosi Delfini, the Dosi Magnavacca Palace, the Colombara Bridge – Pracchiola, the Groppodalosio Bridge, Stele Statues Museum of Lunigiana, Piagnaro Castle of Pontremoli.
Lunigiana World thanks our friend Paolo Bissoli for the text about the city of Pontremoli.
