Sarzana (La Spezia)

Inhabitants 19.744
Area 32,95 Sq km
Altitude 22 m. asl
A12 motorway exit - Sarzana

Situated at the crossing between the via Aurelia and the Cisa road, Sarzana is now the second town in La Spezia municipality. Sarzana territory spreads over a wide area and is much variegated, as it goes from Marinella, tourist sea location at the end of the river Magra also known for a Roman archaeological site, to Falcinello, perched on the top of a hill in front of Arcola. Sarzana is a very old town, and before year 1000 it was known as the Castrum (castle, stronghold), as we read in a document by Emperor Otto I.

Sarzana had a strategic position because it controlled some important communication lines: the via Aurelia, the via Romea and those roads that led north towards Parma and the Po valley. The city center is still partly located within the ancient city walls and is delimited by two main doors: Porta Romana to the East, and Porta Parma to the west. Halfway between these doors is Piazza Matteotti, with the Town Hall, the War Memorial and some old buildings from different periods.

North east of Sarzana, not far from the town, stands the Fortezza di Sarzanello or di Castruccio Castracani, erected on the hill where the bishop of Luni used to have his castle. The fortezza belonged to Castruccio Castracani and was later taken by the Genuese and by the French, who adapted it to their needs.