Montemarcello - fraz. di Ameglia

Montemarcello is a small historic village in the municipality of Ameglia, that lies 266 metres above sea- level. Surrounded by ancient walls that are still visible today, it’s made up of small streets and alleyways that form a compact cluster of houses on the Promontorio del Caprione ridge that looks out over the sea. With Liguria on its external side, and the mouth of the river Magra on its internal side, this is part of the hilly urbanisation that has happened over the centuries in the Ligurian villages of the historic Lunigiana Area. The surrounding area of the village is included in the Montemarcello Magra – Vara Park established in 1985 and from 2006, is part of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” initiative. The village is encircled by many old walking routes that connect the surrounding villages with the sea and the coast – Lerici/Tellaro to the west and Armeglia/Arcola on the internal side where the river is, Bocca di Magra on the side of the river’s outlet. Departing from the village, a path goes down to the famous Punta Corvo beach, known for its crystal clear waters. In Montemarcello, there are many panoramic view points to enjoy. On one side they look out over the Apuane mountains and on the other towards the Gulf of Venus (Golfo di Venere) where the islands of Palmaria and Tino are. It’s said that the name of the village derives from the victory of the Consul Marco Claudio Marcello over the Ligurian people during the settlement of the Roman colony Luni that is on the other side of the Magra river. Architectonically, the village shows signs of the Middle Ages, both in its defence structures and its housing. Inside the church of St Peter which dates back to the 15th Century, there’s a tryptic attributed to the Master of Borsigliano and a fine marble altarpiece from 1529, commissioned by the village and attributed to the French sculptor Domenico Gare, nicknamed “ilfranzosino”. The only current square in the village has no connection to its history as a roman settlement but is instead the outcome of an aerial bombing that took place 13 December 1944 that caused many victims and huge damages.