The Magra Valley and its tributaries, the Magriola and Civasola rivers, not only play a significant role in the transportation network but also offer fascinating scenic views, with lush forests alternating with cultivated areas dotted with small and picturesque villages. Starting from Pontremoli and following the SS 62 highway, you pass the hamlet of Mignegno (where, in a nearby chestnut grove, the 16th-century Oratory of St. Terenziano is located). Continuing along the SS 62, you reach Montelungo, a location mentioned as a stop in the oldest pilgrim routes of the Middle Ages, and especially known for the therapeutic properties of its oligomineral waters, which flow from the so-called “Fountain of Virtue.” Montelungo is just 5 km from the Cisa Pass (1041 m), a historic mountain pass, marked by a small church dedicated to the Madonna della Guardia and today identified as the “Gateway to the Via Francigena in Tuscany.”

Leaving the Cisa highway, there are different paths leading back to Pontremoli: two paths allow you to descend into the Magra Valley, reaching Cavezzana d’Antena or Cargalla, while another path takes you to the Magriola Valley, leading to the village of Succisa, famous for being the birthplace of Saint Zita. For those who love scenic landscapes, it is recommended to ascend from the village of Gravagna to the green meadows of Groppo del Vescovo, where a panoramic view of the valley can be enjoyed. From Gravagna, following the course of the Civasola River, you descend to Molinello, a junction connecting the numerous hamlets that make up the Magra Valley. Heading upwards from Molinello towards the villages of Casalina and Pracchiola, you can reach the Cirone Pass (1255 m), located at the foot of the mountain range crowned by Mount Orsaro (1831 m). On this road, near the settlement of Groppodalosio, you’ll find a picturesque medieval bridge with a single arch, still walkable today.

From Mount Borgognone (1401 m), which overlooks Pracchiola, the Magra River is born, and in the area, there is the waterfall called “Il Piscio,” a true natural gem. At the Cirone pass, there is a charming little church dedicated to the Madonna dell’Orsaro.

Starting from Pontremoli and following the Provincial Road No. 39 of Brattello, you quickly reach Traverde. Here, in a small chapel (Oratory of St. Mary the White) attached to the cemetery, you can find some valuable 15th-century frescoes from the Lombard school. Continuing along the provincial road, you arrive at Grondola, a village once important for its strategic location and its significant castle, the ruins of which still watch over, perched on a solitary hill, the ancient routes of the Borgallo and Brattello paths. Beyond Grondola, you encounter the two villages of Braia and Bratto, which retain numerous rustic buildings entirely made of stone.

Continuing along the Provincial Road, you reach the Brattello Pass (953 m), where a chapel dedicated to emigrants has been built. From here, it is possible to reach, via a dirt road, first the Croce di Ferro (1173 m) and then the summit of Mount Molinatico (1549 m). Heading towards the Borgallo Pass, among streams, waterfalls, farmhouses, and dense woods, you reach Guinadi, connected to the many villages of the upper Verde Valley. The most important settlement in this valley was, at least in the past, Cervara, a populous center and home to an ancient hospital. From here, continuing along a dirt road, you reach the Lago Verde, a small lake nestled among meadows and beech woods, at an altitude of over 1,000 meters, a popular destination for hiking and fishing competitions. Nearby, you can find a picturesque stone village in the Farfarà area.

From Cervara, it is possible to descend to Pontremoli via the municipal road that leads to the hamlets of Prà del Prete and Barca, offering a complete view of the Magra Valley and the Apennine ridge: from Orsaro to Marmagna, from Mount Aquila to Sillara, and up to the white Apuan Alps. Descending towards Pontremoli, you can reach the villages of Dozzano, Bassone, and Vignola, the latter being known for the presence of the Church of St. Pancras, first mentioned in 1148. The church, despite numerous restorations, still retains its ancient Romanesque three-nave layout, and recently, a proto-Romanesque side apse was discovered. It is said that beneath the altar of the Holy Cross, there is a walled-up pagan altar. The cult of the Holy Cross is believed to be linked to the Christianization of the area.

The Magriola Valley descends from the Cisa Pass to the Pontremoli suburb of Mignegno, crossing the villages of Montelungo and Succisa, and bordering the territory of Cargalla. This valley is characterized by beautiful forests, where chestnuts and beeches dominate the landscape, but it is also a treasure trove of rich cultural heritage scattered throughout its numerous and picturesque villages. In Mignegno, you can find “Il Palazzo,” a building where, according to tradition, the King of France, Charles VIII, slept, as well as the Oratory of St. Terenziano and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

In Succisa (a collective name referring to a group of small villages located near the Cisa Pass), the Church of St. Felicita and Perpetua, the ruins of the castle, the Ferrari-Musetti Palace, the Santa Zita House-Chapel (where the birthplace of Saint Zita is disputed with Monsagrati in the Lucca area — though the people of Lucca also acknowledge that her father was from Succisa), are all worth a visit.

The Magriola Valley is also famous for its porcini mushrooms, certified with the IGP mark. In Montelungo, renowned for its thermal waters, the Church of St. Benedict and “Il Palazzo,” an ancient historical building that local tradition connects to the Via Francigena route, are also worth a visit. Montelungo is historically known for housing a religious settlement run by the Benedictine Order, an “xenodochium” that provided hospitality and assistance to pilgrims and travelers passing through along the Cisa route since the Early Middle Ages.

The Magriola Valley has several trattorias open year-round, offering typical local cuisine. The most important festivals are the mushroom festival and the Feast of St. Zita in Succisa (respectively in September and April), the Feast of St. Benedict in Montelungo (in March), and the Feast of St. Terenziano in Mignegno (on the first of September).

The Gordana Stream Valley is located in the westernmost part of the municipal territory: ascending from the area of Casa Corvi, you reach the hamlets of Dozzano and Scorano, where the Villa Pavesi-Negri is located, featuring a picturesque “Italian-style” garden with a belvedere and a nymphaeum. Heading down towards Valunga and Cavezzana Gordana and following the course of the Gordana Stream, you reach the entrance to the captivating Stretti di Giaredo, a site of great natural interest, where the stream flows between two steep walls of red and green jasper. In the past, this stone was used to build some altars in Pontremoli churches. It is possible to hike and swim up the gorges of the Stretti di Giaredo for several hundred meters, immersing oneself in an untouched and suggestive natural environment.

Continuing on the right side of the Gordana Stream, you reach the village of San Cristoforo, where in 1948, the northernmost of the Lunigiana Stele Statues was discovered, one of the oldest. Heading further up the valley towards Zeri, you can reach Arzelato, a village perched on the ridge of a spur of Monte Rotondo, offering a stunning view of the valley floor villages. The village church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.

Descending again towards Pontremoli, you can visit the Church of Saliceto, formerly known as the Church of Saints Hippolytus and Cassian of Urceola, which has recently been the subject of archaeological excavations. Not far away, across from the Magra River, between the Gordana and Teglia Streams, lies Oppilo, surrounded by slopes adorned with vineyards. Continuing along the provincial road, after passing the Novoleto industrial area, you reach the village of Teglia, distinguished by its Romanesque-style bell tower. Above a bend of the eponymous stream stands the 18th-century Villa Pavesi-Negri.