Podenzana (Massa Carrara)

Inhabitants 1.624
Area17,2 Sq km
Altitude 370 m. asl
A15 motorway exit - Aulla

The hilly territory of Podenzana is divided in two areas lying on both sides of a mountain ridge: one of them belongs to the Val di Magra and is located in front of Aulla; the other one is in Val di Vara among the villages of Bolano, Tresana and Calice al Cornoviglio. Starting from Aulla a winding road leads to Podenzana, which can hardly be defined a town.

Podenzana is in fact made up of a number of houses scattered over the hill, stretching up to the Val di Vara near the via Aurelia, and looking over the valley with the Brunella fortress. From below in the valley, Podenzana looks austere; such it must have appeared to the travellers and pilgrims going down via Aurelia from and towards Genoa, stopping at the hospitale (hostel) San Jacopo di Zulliano. The memory of this latter still lives in the name of that area: "Spedaletto".