Centuries of history of Lunigiana are witnessed in the stones

Pontremoli. Romanic Abside
of S. Giorgio Church

The beauty of the natural materials can be witnessed on religious monuments, and other witness are the skillfully decorated Baptist basins, altars and tabernacles, all made from sandstone.

Looking back to the 8th and 9th century, it can be affirmed that Lunigiana has been build from sandstone. Up to medieval times and beyond, sandstone was used for the building of major monuments. Witness of this are not only the houses of Lunigiana but also churches and other historical buildings, that continued to be built in sandstone, even though brick replaced sand stone in many other areas. Artistic craftsmanship is being highlighted on many buildings and visible on doors or window frames, characterizing architecture by carvings in the sand stone that are witness of pastimes.


Pontremoli. Monastery of the S.S. Annunziata columns of the 1.side aisle		The Labirinto

Pontremoli - provision with piagne and provision with sandstone board

During the medieval times, in Lunigiana and also in other areas, houses were covered with straw or wood, made them vulnerable to fire. The use of slabs indicate ancient intelligence that benefited the community as it gave their homes better protection.

Ancient testimonies go back to the VIII century, telling the story of Ponzanello, home to the Bishop of Luni for the community of Fosdinovo. Three loads of slabs were distributed to every inhabitant of the community to put on their houses, with the order to be maintained by the inhabitants. Over the centuries, that tradition was followed by other villages in the region.