CASTELNUOVO MAGRA..

                               CASTELNUOVO MAGRA

Castelnuovo Magra is a suburb of La Spezia, it is situated in the east of Liguria. In the outskirtses it is possible to visit the fraction of Vallecchia, Colombiera, Marciano and Molicciara. In Castelnuovo Magra there are 8.256 people and the mayor is Marzio Favini. In this place there are the church of Santa Maria Maddalena and an old Bishop's Castle. It is situated on a hill called Mount Bastione and from Castelnuovo you can see a beautiful panorama of the see,mountains and islands, as Gorgona and Capraia. This hill is full of olive groves in fact the oil is the major product of this country and you can eat a lot of typical products, like ravioli, focaccia, panigacci...

In Castelnuovo Magra passes the Via Francigena. The Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome is a historical itinerary, a highway in the pasttraveled by thousands of pilgrims to Rome.

HISTORY

Castelnuovo Magra was founded between 1187 and 1203, during the war between the Bishop of Luni and the Malaspina Walter and the first village was Borghetto.Here was signed the "Peace of Dante" between the bishops of Luni and the Malaspina.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS

The most important products: sausages, our own mortadella, “la Prosciutta”, testaroli, pesto,sgabei, wine, extra virgin olive oil, Castelnuovo's. focaccia

CASTELNUOVO'S CHESTNUT RECIPE

Take about a pound of chestnut flour and roll it out in a bowl until all lumps are removed.Add a pinch of salt and stir the flour in slowly, about one quart of cold water until ahomogeneous liquid batter. Add a little preparation of pine nuts.
Now take a pan rather large so that the batter reaches the depth of an inch and a half.Grease the pan with oil, pour in the batter and pour over two tablespoons of olive oil.
Put the pan in a preheated oven (at a temperature of about 375°) or less for 30 minutes oruntil the surface begins to crack.
You can use the batter for cooking some great pancakes.

PLACES TO VISIT

Malaspina's Castle is an imposing structure located in a major square: Piazza Querciola. In middle of this square is a large oak trees in ancient times used to hang the traitors. Todaythere are the remains of the castle tower and some walls.

The church of Santa Maria Maddalena dates from the seventeenth century. The church has three naves, separated by twelve
columns of white marble from Carrara, as tradition wants, from the ruins of the ancientCathedral of Luni. The work
Art is the most valuable of the crucifixion, Flemish painter Peter Brueghel the Younger, post in the first chapel on the left.