AMEGLIA | LIGURIA REGION

The ancient town of Ameglia is today a privileged tourist destination, with mountains right in the background, in the middle of a regional park, and including smaller seaside resorts at Fiumaretta and Bocca di Magra, situated each on one side of the Magra river.

 Archeological excavations have discovered an ancient necropolis, probably of the 4th century BC, showing that the area was a transit route from the mountains to the sea. It was later a Roman town, as shown by the remains of a Villa Marittima, and maintained its importance in the Middle Ages. In 963 the Castrum de Ameliae is mentioned as a bishopric seat. In the 13th century it was surrounded by defence wall, and the sighting tower and port were also built. It was for a time ruled by Castruccio Castracani, then came under different families of the area, such as the Doria, Visconti, and Campofregoso. In the 19th century it was under the jurisdiction of Lerici, then in the 20th century a remarkable tourist development transformed the previously mainly fishing economy. After the Second World War it was a cultural retreat of artists, poets and intellectuals as Giovanni Pintori, Giulio Einaudi, Marguerite Duras, Franco Fortini, Albe Steiner, Elio Vittorini, Italo Calvino.

What to see

• A Roman Villa of the 1st century BC at Bocca di Magra, near the moth of the Magra river.
• The fortified borough of Montemarcello, on the monte Caprione, with a fine view over the Val di Magra and the Gulf of La Spezia, where the 15th century church of San Pietro can be visited.
• The Regional Park Montemarcello Magra, with an interesting Botanical Garden on top of Monte Murlo.