Things to Do in Sarzana, Italy - Sarzana Attractions
Things to Do in Sarzana
Tours near Sarzana
Book these experiences to see what the area has to offer.
- fromper adult$72
Half-day Toursfromper adult$112- fromper adult$148
Cooking Classesfromper adult$199- fromper group (up to 4)$778
- fromper adult$162
Rail Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)$89- fromper adult$84
Water Toursfromper adult$100
Private and Luxuryfromper adult$149
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Other Top Attractions around Sarzana
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travelers are saying
- C&DMelbourne, Australia17 contributionsIt was a climb, but 10=15 minutes from the centre of town to the top fortress. After visiting Fortezza Firmafede in the morning, it was lovely to see the hill top fortress. There was less interactive info at this one, and there was some rubbish and weeds that could be cleaned up. But overall, it was amazing to see and hear the history of the region. We were also interested in the via francigena route and it made sense how important Sarzana is to the whole region.Written June 25, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Brun066Florence, Italy13,544 contributionsThis cathedral, and the works of art it contains, are useful for understanding the personality of the city.
Let's start with the very existence of the cathedral. The name "cathedral" indicates that Sarzana is an episcopal seat; and this alone was enough in past centuries to define cities of a certain importance. The bishopric was in fact the owner of income (land and otherwise) and therefore implied the presence of economic assets, people and relationships. To clarify better: the nearby city of La Spezia, which today eclipses Sarzana in importance, has only been the seat of a bishopric (that of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato) since 1929.
Not only that: it is a bishopric with noble origins: Sarzana inherited, since 1201, not only the bishop but also the "Comitatus" (county) from the nearby coastal city of Luni, a Roman colony founded in 177 BC, and which remained an urban stronghold of this region of Italy for over a millennium.
This can justify the size and magnificence of the cathedral, inexplicable with the current importance of the city. In fact, I think I can say that there are no equally majestic churches to be found in the entire wide stretch of coast from Genoa to Lucca.
The grandiose interior also houses some masterpieces, or at least noteworthy presences. To the right of the presbytery, the Chapel of the Precious Blood houses - closed in a reliquary - an ampoule believed to contain the blood of Christ, transported here from Luni in 1202, coinciding with the transfer of the bishopric to Sarzana.
An illustrative panel at the entrance of the church gives credence to the version according to which the ampoule would have been contained in an empty boat, which mysteriously landed in Luni in 782 AD.
However, the genesis of an illustrious work, housed in the chapel to the left of the presbytery, is less mysterious: the so-called painted cross of "Maestro Guglielmo" (1138), one of the oldest that have come down to us, belonging to the Lucca school, with a expression of Christ which could be defined as "Olympic", and decorated with valuable scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
Finally, among the masterpieces present in the cathedral, we mention the splendid marble polyptychs that decorate the bottom of the two arms of the transept. The one on the left is the "Altar of the Coronation" [of Mary] (1432), and was created by Leonardo Riccomanni, a sculptor from Pietrasanta. The one on the right is the "Altar of Purification", also of Mary, it is almost forty years later (1471), and is owed in a small part to Leonardo himself, now elderly, and in a major part to his nephew Francesco.
After visiting the church, I read up on Leonardo Riccomanni, a sculptor who is as valid as he is little known; and I have ascertained that he is a protagonist of the sculpture of his era, freely interpreting the influences of very different masters (such as Jacopo della Quercia, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Domenico Gagini), but is probably less known because he worked in western Tuscany, an autonomous area and secluded from the main centers of the region; and indeed he mostly operated outside Tuscany, from Genoa to Naples; so the scholar Gabriele Donati (2015) proposed attributing to him the qualification of "coast painter".
There is enough, I believe, to be convinced that this cathedral is a distinguished monument, valid - together with the two fortresses - to understand the meaning of the city of Sarzana.Written January 23, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 
Elizaa S29 contributionsrecommend to anybody who love sun and relax. region is very nice, a lot of restaurants, pub and nice sandWritten November 10, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.- Brun066Florence, Italy13,544 contributionsThe so-called "Firmafede" fortress, although it isn't the first built on the site (there was a previous fortress, built by the Pisans), however appears as a construction built from scratch, on the basis of a unitary project, with architectural features typical of the transition between the Middle Ages and the early modern age. The project actually dates back to the occupation of Sarzana by the Florentine State (1487-1494), although it's possible that part of the project was carried out later, by the Genoese when they regained possession of the town.
The current entrance to the fortress doesn't allow you to immediately understand the structure of the building. However, the visitor gradually verifies that the large rectangular courtyard which is accessed (we later learn from the illustrated plan of the Fortress that it once housed the soldiers and horses of the garrison) is lined on its left - therefore to the west - by a perfect square courtyard, smaller in size , but having an essential functions because at its center stands, isolated, the mighty round keep.
The entire complex (rectangle + square + a further, narrow rectangular courtyard to the north of the keep) is surrounded by walls and defended at the corners by four round and equally powerful towers, which bear the names of saints. A fifth tower is located on a southern appendage of the fortress, a sort of "peninsula", defended by two ravelins.
The visitor currently has access to the various courtyards, to the outside of some towers, and to the large and evocative underground areas; but not to other interiors and above all not to the keep: this is because the MudeF or Museum of Fortresses, which is located here, is closed for maintenance work. And this necessarily somewhat diminishes the interest of the visit.Written January 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PaulBMaastricht, The Netherlands3,137 contributionsThe parish church of Sant'Andrea is the oldest building in Srzana and dates back to the 10th century.
The church was built over the foundations of a medieval building and underwent numerous restorations and change during the following centuries.
The original building was less elevated than the current building, as shown by the walls of the sides and façade.
The current facade, higher than the medieval one, consists of an entrance door embellished with a sixteenth-century portal in white Carrara marble.
The construction of the bell tower can be traced back to the 14th century.
The three original naves were transformed into a single hall, new and larger windows were opened and a general embellishment of the building was carried out with internal monuments and chapels
A new overall revision of the internal structure was started during the seventeenth century.
After the works of 1928-1929, in which part of the plaster was removed, it is possible to directly observe the medieval parament of the ancient church with three naves.
Admission is free.Written September 7, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PaulBMaastricht, The Netherlands3,137 contributionsPorta Romana, also called Porta Nuova, Pisana or San Bartolomeo, is the eastern gate of the city and was made by the end of the 18th century.
It represents, with Porta Parma, an example still existing of one of the five entrance gates to the town.
The gate is made in white Carrara marble.
Porta Romana connects the Torrione Testaforte, with the overhanging Villino Carpena, to the Cittadella.Written September 10, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - David SSan Francisco, CA2 contributionsThey have great pieces of art. we suggest to go and talk with the owners. they will suggest the best for you. the gallery is simply fabulous.Written March 28, 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
