Lunigiana, land of Dante and Michelangelo – School Trip
Lunigiana was home, for a short time, of the greatest Italian artists: Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo Buonarroti. The itinerary follows the places of their stay in Lunigiana and tells the history of this territory through guided tours in order to know this little corner of Italy.
Day 1 – Mulazzo and Pontremoli: Dante and Malaspina family in Lunigiana
Meeting with the guide in Mulazzo.
The itinerary starts from the ancient capital of Lunigiana: the medieval village of Mulazzo, where the poet Dante Alighieri lived during the first months after his exile. He was a guest of the noble Malaspina family of the Dry Thorn. After an introduction about the family history and the links with Dante, we will visit Dante’s home in Lunigiana and the Archivio Museo of Malaspina.
After lunch, visit to the old town of Pontremoli and the Piagnaro castle, with its Museum of Stele Statues, prehistoric monuments which dated back to the 4th millennium B.C. In the old town, according to the legend, Frederick the 2nd blinded his counsellor Pier delle Vigne. This story is told in Dante’s Inferno.
Day 2 – Luni and Sarzana: Pax Dantis
Meeting with the guide in Luni, the old roman colony. We will visit what remains about roman houses, temples and the amphitheatre. Luni was the main port of the Mediterranean see during Roman Age. In Dante’s Paradiso, the poet told the story of the abandoning of Luni during Middle Ages. From the port of Luni, a lot of ships, charged with Carrara white marble, left to reach Rome. This ancient marble inspired many Renaissance artists and also the great Michelangelo.
After lunch, visit to the medieval village of Sarzana. The tour starts from Porta Romana. We walk along the village and we will visit the most important monuments of the town, which are all along the medieval street. Visit of Firmafede fortress, built by Medici family, the Cathedral with the Cross of Mastro Guglielmo, the oldest painted cross of the Italian art, and Sant’Andrea Parish Church. In the main square there is an epigraphy which reminds the Pax Dantis, the peace between the Luni Bishops and Malaspina family in October 1306.
Day 3 – Carrara: the white marble town Meeting with the guide in Carrara.
Carrara is famous all over the world for the extraction of white marble, started during Roman age. Carrara marble is one of the most precious in the world, and it was used in Renaissance period in order to create the most important masterpieces of Italian art. Michelangelo followed the extraction of white marble blocks used to sculpt Pietà and Mosé.
The itinerary allows to study the working techniques of this rock, from Roman age to industrial period, with particular attention to social and environmental themes linked to the extraction of marble and Apuan Alps.
In the morning, guided tour of Danesi museum, in the Fantiscritti marble basin, where quarrymen found a low relief of Roman age.
After lunch, guided tour of the old town of Carrara and its Dome, completely in marble. Possibility to visit a sculpture laboratory to understand the secrets of sculpture.
Prices:
Every day: 250 € for the guided tour, (for each guide: one guide for 25 students) Tickets:
- Dante’s home: 3 euro per person
- Archivio Museo Malaspina: 2 euro per person
- Piagnaro castle: 5 euro per person
- Luni: 4 euro per person
- Firmafede Fortress: 5 euro per person
- Danesi museum: 2 euro per person
- Sculpture laboratory: 3 euro per person
