Licciana Nardi
Licciana Nardi is a small town in the province of Massa-Carrara, in the heart of Lunigiana, surrounded by chestnut-covered hills a...
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Licciana Nardi now
The story
The story of Licciana Nardi
Where Licciana Nardi Is Located
Licciana Nardi lies in Lunigiana, the historic borderland between Tuscany, Liguria and Emilia, within the province of Massa-Carrara. The municipal territory stretches along the valley of the Taverone stream, a tributary of the River Magra, and is made up of numerous hamlets scattered across the Apennine foothills. The landscape alternates stone villages perched on ridges, terraced fields and broad wooded slopes, in a quiet, rural setting. Its position, close to Lunigiana's main routes, makes it a convenient base for exploring the Tuscan-Emilian hinterland away from the crowded coast.
History and Origins
The area long belonged to the feudal domains of the Malaspina family, who during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance built fortifications to defend the routes between Tuscany and the Po Valley, including the castle in the hamlet of Terrarossa and the fortress of Comano. The municipality's current name, once simply Licciana, was extended with the surname Nardi in memory of Anacarsi Nardi, a local Risorgimento patriot who died in 1844 during the Bandiera brothers' expedition in Calabria. This dual heritage, feudal and patriotic, is still visible today in the historic layout of the hamlets and in local place names.
Nature and Landscape
The landscape of Licciana Nardi is dominated by centuries-old chestnut woods covering the hills and mountainsides, typical of the whole of Lunigiana, together with mixed oak and beech forests further up towards the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The Taverone stream runs through the municipal territory, carving small gorges and wetland pockets, while a dense network of paths and mule tracks links the hamlets together, offering plenty of opportunities for walks and hikes close to nature. In autumn the woods turn to intense colours and become a destination for gathering chestnuts and porcini mushrooms, activities still very much alive in the local community.
Things to Do and See
Among the most interesting experiences is a visit to the Malaspina castle at Terrarossa, an example of Renaissance fortified architecture, and to the ruins of the Comano fortress, perched on a rocky spur overlooking the valley. The centre of Licciana retains a medieval layout with narrow lanes, stone doorways and small spaces tied to local memory, while the municipality's other hamlets reveal a rural landscape that is still little known. Trekking enthusiasts can follow the paths of the Taverone valley and the connections towards the Apennine ridges, suitable for both short walks and more demanding high-altitude hikes.
Flavours and Traditions
The cuisine of Licciana Nardi is rooted in the peasant traditions of Lunigiana, where chestnuts have been a dietary staple for centuries: chestnut flour becomes bread, sweets and the local herb tart, while testaroli and panigacci, cooked on traditional griddles, are served with pesto or local cheeses. Porcini mushrooms, chestnut honey and artisan cured meats, often produced by small family-run farms, also feature prominently. During autumn, the chestnut harvest season is an occasion for village festivals that bring the hamlets to life, keeping recipes and gestures handed down through generations alive.
Not to be missed
- Malaspina Castle at Terrarossa
- Ruins of the Comano fortress
- Historic centre of Licciana
- Paths and chestnut woods of the Taverone valley
- Local flavours: chestnut flour, testaroli and panigacci
To see
What to see in Licciana Nardi
Routes · Trovido Route
