The Val di Magra is a northwestern geographic region overlooking the Ligurian Sea. This territory offers a lot of tourist attractions: beaches, natural parks, medieval villages, culinary traditions, and much more. About 40 minutes from the Pisa airport and connected to other cities in Italy by the A1 Highway (Autostrada del Sole), Val di Magra is an excellent area to buy a holiday home.
Where Val di Magra is located
Located in the vast natural and historical region of Lunigiana, Val di Magra is the territory where the Magra River flows. That is why it is called Val di Magra (the valley of river Magra). The area covers both a part of Massa Carrara province (in the Tuscany region) and a part of La Spezia province (in the Liguria region), including hills, ancient medieval villages and some Ligurian coast, where the Magra River flows.
What to do and what to see in Val di Magra
Whatever your passion is, Val di Magra has something to offer you. First of all, there are lovely beaches, such as Punta Corvo, which can be reached on foot after a trekking route from Montemarcello (Municipality of Ameglia). Those who prefer comfort can reach the beaches of Fiumaretta and Marinella di Sarzana, which have equipped lidos along the entire coastline. The more athletic can indulge in walks in the hills near the sea or in the mountains. This area, in fact, is full of hiking trails maintained by the CAI. Visit the website of the Montemarcello-Magra-Vara Regional Natural Park and discover all the trekking routes!
But that’s not all! Val di Magra is rich in ancient medieval villages that every year, especially in spring and summer, give life to festivals. Particularly characteristic is the village of Fosdinovo, a medieval town 550 meters above the sea from which one can admire the Magra River as it flows into the Ligurian Sea, the Ligurian coast on the border with Tuscany, the port of Carrara, and, on sunny days, even the Livorno coast, some islands of the Tuscan archipelago, and Corsica. The villages and towns of Val di Magra are characterized by castles, fortresses, strongholds, churches, and ancient palaces.
Finally, like every Italian region, the Val di Magra boasts many typical culinary recipes: sgabei, panigacci, testaroli, farinata, vegetable pies, Sarzana scarpazza, castagnaccio, and Sarzana spongata. In addition, the Val di Magra is rich in grapevines. Many of the wines produced in this area enjoy the IGT designation. (The acronym IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica and is used to indicate that the wine has certain characteristics, such as area and production procedures.)
Val di Magra surroundings
Around Val di Magra, it is possible to visit numerous outstanding parks:
the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago;
the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines;
the Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps.
In addition, just a 10-minute drive from Sarzana (SP), it is possible to reach Lerici and admire the Gulf of Poets.
For those who want a bit of nightlife, it is possible to reach Versilia and the seaside clubs in 45 minutes by highway (A1) from Sarzana.
How much houses cost in Val di Magra
It is not possible to establish a generic price. The value of a house depends on many factors, including location, size, and condition, to name a few. In general, the closer you get to the coast, the more prices tend to rise.
Looking for a holiday home near the sea in Italy? Contact the Italy Dream Homes team. We’ll get right to work on finding your dream holiday home.
