Stage 23 of the Via Francigena to Aulla begins in Piazza della Repubblica; names such as Testarolo and Karsenta are part of Pontremoli’s culinary tradition. This gives you both a clearly defined route and cultural and culinary themes to choose from when planning your trip. You can focus on a walking stage or get to know Pontremoli through its local specialities and historic landmarks.

Testarolo and Karsenta: two local traditions

Testarolo is a traditional dish from Pontremoli’s cuisine and a Slow Food Presidia. Karsenta, in turn, is a traditional bread from Pontremoli; it received the municipal designation of origin De.C.O. (Denominazione Comunale di Origine). The two names represent different forms of local food culture: one is a dish, the other a bread, and their respective recognitions are also different.

If culinary traditions are one of the things you consider when choosing a destination, these designations offer a concrete point of reference. They point to Pontremoli itself and add a distinctive perspective to its routes and historic sites. The information about Testarolo and Karsenta concerns the origins and traditions of these foods; it does not indicate where or when they are available.

Art, history and pilgrim connections

The Diocesan Museum brings together numerous examples of art, history and faith from the upper Lunigiana. Its exhibition is divided into a medieval section and a section on sacred art. This brings together a period defined by time and a thematic focus on religious art. For a cultural visit, the museum offers more than just a single historical period as a point of reference.

The Campanone is the central tower of the Cazzaguerra fortifications. Built in the 14th century, it is now a landmark of Pontremoli. The Church of San Pietro is one of the city’s oldest churches and served as a point of reference for pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena. Both places connect Pontremoli with its history, but each has a different emphasis: the Campanone on fortifications and architecture, and the church on its place among the old churches and its historic connection to pilgrims.

The Castello del Piagnaro also serves as a stopping point for pilgrims on the Via Francigena. Together with the church, this connection shows that the pilgrim tradition in Pontremoli is linked both to a present-day stopping point and to a historic association. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether you are more interested in the route itself, cultural heritage or local food culture. The Ciclovia adds a cycling route of its own, with its symbolic starting point in the historic centre.

Discover more destinations: Montelungo, Marina di Carrara, Tresana, Malgrate, Bagnone, Caniparola, Podenzana, Corlaga.

See the wider travel overview: Massa-Carrara.