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Outside the Old Town Centre of Mulazzo, Tuscany

Groppoli
Groppoli offers the castle, the villa and the church, wanted by the Brignole Sale of Genoa on a project by Matteo Vinzoni. Castevoli and its mighty Malaspina old village. Lusuolo and Campoli where a stele statue stando guard outside the Oratory.
An absolute must is a visit to the church of the Madonna al Monte, with an incomparable view over Lunigiana and, on really clear days, over the sea.

Alessandro Malaspina Centre of Studies
The Centre, in a medieval tower of Mulazzo, contains materials and documents relevant to the Malaspina family of Mulazzo with particolar reference to the navigator Alessandro Malaspina (1754-1810). They tell the story of this famous man from Lunigiana.
He sailed around the world and made notable scientific discoveries.
Info: piazza Malaspina, 2 - Tel. 0187 439712
E-mail: csmalaspiniani@interfree.it

Montereggio
Montereggio is the town of book dealers, where many important families of Italian and European book dealers starter their business.
About one century ago they set off from this town with a pannier of their backs to sell books in Italy, Spain and France.
They were street traders who sold their wares on market stalls.
Some opened bookshops, other became editors and expanded their businesses to Latin America.
Today Montereggio, "Town of the Book dealers" has become the "Town of the book" part of the European circuit of Book towns. The intention is to turn it into a centre dedicated to books and publishing
A must to visit is also the Church of Sant'Apollinare.

Castello Malaspina di Castevoli (XI sec.)
Founded in eleventh century by the Estensi Family, in 1195 it passed under the Marchesi Malaspina, who in 1306, played host to Dante Alighieri.
In 1416 ownership of the building was transferred to the Republic of Genoa, but returned to the Malaspina in 1465.
In 1561, it was transformed into an autonomous estate under the rule of Tommaso Malaspina.
In 1797, a revolt ended the rule of the Malaspina and the castle was abandoned for two century.
In 1990, the painter and sculptor Loris Nelson Ricci, with his Swiss wife Erika H. End, rebuilt the ancient Castle on its ruins.
After eight years of dedicated restoration, the Castle was opened in 1998. Inside you can see sculptures, paintings, designs and architectural projects.
The building is also an International Cultural Centre, dedicated to art students in particular.
Info: the building is privately owned.
For further information and visits: Mr. Ricci, tel. 0187 850490.

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