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Dawn Hendrickson TropicalMusicInternational.com Dawn and Steve Hendrickson are busy talent agents and the owners of Tropical Music International. The Hendricksons live in Orlando and supply entertainment and talent all across world, as well as being wholesale distributors for Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Kenny Chesney and the finest Hawaiian Artists and Steel Drum Bands. Clients include the Ritz Carlton, Sirius Radio, the PGA, Carnival Cruise Lines, the Orlando Magic, Miami Dolphins, City Walk, and the Islands of St. Lucia, Grenada, Caymans, and the British Virgin Isles. Learn more at: http://TropicalMusicInternational.com |
Lunigiana (in Latin Lunensis Ager) is the historical region between northern Tuscany, western Emilia Romagna and eastern Liguria. It is one of my favourite territories of Tuscany. This mountainous region is crossed by the Magra river and covers an area that runs from the Tosco-Emiliano Appennines to the Mediterranean Sea.
Lunigiana today belongs in part to Tuscany and in part to Liguria. In the past Lunigiana was extended till the Versilia coastline and till the Serchio River Valley, not far from the town of Lucca.
The name Lunigiana probably comes from the devotion to the myth of the Moon (Lunae in Latin) of the ancient inhabitants of Luni, an important city at the time of Roman Empire, founded in 177 BC. That’s why Lunigiana is also considered the valley of the Moon.
History of Lunigiana
Lunigiana has a long history back to the Prehistoric Era, and the proofs of it are the famous Statue Stele. These anthropomorphic stone statues date back to the 4th– 1th millennium BC, but their function is not revealed yet.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire on 460 AD, Lunigiana has been the center of the contest between the Byzantines and Longobards, and then Franks.
The Diocese of Luni owned all the historic territory during the Middle Ages, including Versilia and La Spezia harbor (not far from Cinque Terre). This is the time in which the Via Francigena, (the combination of roads that linked Canterbury to Rome, along 1.600 Km/994 miles), gained of importance as pilgrimage route, and as military connection between Northern Europe and Mediterranean Sea.
The Obertenghi, dynasty of Longobards origin, around the year 1000, established their noble family in Lunigiana. And then, the Malaspina Family, their descendants, controlled this territory for almost two centuries.
As often happens in a family, relations between relatives were not easy, especially if hereditaries are longing the power. The Malaspina Family split their properties in two distinct branches, the Spino Fiorito (Blooming Thorn) and the Spino Secco (Dry Thorn). Thanks to the Malaspina competitiveness, in both sides of the Magra River Valley many villages have been fortified and many castles built. Lots of them are still existing. The only independent city was Pontremoli, which was an important trade center.
After decades of fights, in 1306 on Castelnuovo Magra, an armistice have been signed, between Malaspina and the earl-bishop of Luni. The legend says that, as solicitor of the Malaspina, the nowadays famous poet Dante Alighieri exiled from Florence since the beginning of fourteenth century, signed the treaty.
After the decline of the Malaspina family, Lunigiana became the center of the interest of the main powerful cities, as Florence, Genova and Milan.
In 1797 Napoleon abolished the feudal system, but the actual administrative division went just with the Unification of Italy. Nowadays of the historical Lunigiana does not exist anymore, and the territory has been divided in two different region Tuscany and Liguria.
Edoardo Pucciarelli From Carrara, a small town in the northern coast of Tuscany, Edoardo has worked for more than 10 years in marketing and communications for some of the largest international conglomerates and luxury brands. Lucky to be raised in a family that traveled, Eduardo has continued with his passion, traveling through Australia, United States and Europe and coming in contact with many people of different cultures, learning the way they live and their customs. Eduardo has friends all over the world and has even hosted some at his home, going with them and discovering the best places of his native land, which is located at a crossroads of different regional cultures between Tuscany, Liguria and Emilia Romagna. Tuscany has to much to offer: culture, art, food and wine, entertainment, nature and relaxation, all set in a timeless Italian landscape. Eduardo feels that "experiencing Tuscany” is something more than visiting the well known tuscan cities, eating some pasta, or greeting someone with a “Ciao." It means to know aspects of the Tuscan life in its environment, it means to live life as a local. Eduardo will lead you on a virtual journey through villages and cities that are worth a visit at least once in your life. Are you ready to enjoy the taste of Tuscany? Read more from Edoardo at: http://mytravelintuscany.com Click to follow Edoardo |
Thanks to its central position, you can easily reach many destinations, famous or unusual, by train or by car, and discover all the beauties of Tuscany. Here is my personal list with 10 “day trips to take from Florence ."
1) Fiesole
Take a bus and climb the hill overlooking Florence to reach the town of Fiesole, one the favourite places of many foreigners since the end of 1700s. Of Etruscan origins, Fiesole was an important city of the Roman Age. Today we can still admire the well-preserved Roman Amphitheatre and the ruins of the Necropolis, of a Thermal bath and other imperial palaces. Another interesting attraction is the Medici Villa, built during the fifth teen century, but we can only the gardens (free entry) reserving in advance.
2) Mugello
In less than one hour you can reach the valley of Mugello, rich in beautiful landscapes, nature and opportunities of hiking and biking along a system of tracks in sync with its surroundings. Two of the fourteen Medici Villas included in the UNESCO World Heritage List are in Mugello, known worldwide even for hosting every year the MotoGP motorcycle racing with stars as Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Moreover, being Italy famous for fashion and clothes, if you like shopping, in Barberino del Mugello there is a big outlet where you make great deals. (READ MORE)
Nicola Bandini Nicola lives and breathes the travel life. From Cecina, a small coastal town in the centre of Tuscany, along the Etruscan Coast, Nicola works for luxury hotels and, when he's not working, he travels himself. Nicola spent most of his years in Cecina, on the Tyrrhenian coast, surrounded by the sea, the wine region of Bolgheri and beautiful hills with many little hamlets. As a child there was little opportunity to travel a lot, except for weekends and holidays spent at the families country house in the chestnut wood of the tiny village of Sassetta. Once gown, Nicola started to travel with friends, or by himself, and he fell in love with travel; discovering new cultures, new ways of life and meeting new people from all over the world. Read more from Nicola at: http://mytravelintuscany.com Click to follow Nicola |
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