Where to Stay in Lunigiana: Il Convento, La Fortezza and Montagna Verde

Lunigiana sits at the northern edge of Tuscany, where the Apennines, the Apuan Alps, and the Ligurian border meet. It is a valley region with its own food culture, a circuit of Malaspina castles, and a landscape that has changed very little in centuries. Accommodation here ranges from a restored medieval convent to a private fortress retreat. These are three options worth knowing about.

Il Convento di Casola

Il Convento di Casola is a bed and breakfast in a former convent in the hilltop village of Casola in Lunigiana — a compact settlement of stone houses around a medieval castle above the Aulella valley. The property has seven rooms, ranging from doubles with king-size beds to rooms with single beds, all with shower and heating; some have a fireplace or balcony. Breakfast is continental and served each morning. The multilingual staff (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian) are an asset in a region where English is not widely spoken.

Casola is well positioned for exploring the eastern Lunigiana villages and has the Museo Territoriale dell’Alta Valle Aulella and the Chiesa di Santa Felicita within walking distance. It is a quieter and more rural base than Pontremoli or Aulla, suited to visitors who want a slower pace and direct access to walking trails rather than a town centre. Il Convento di Casola.

La Fortezza

La Fortezza is a restored medieval fortress in the Lunigiana hills owned by Annette Joseph, an American stylist and author. The property has six guest rooms, each with its own bathroom and distinct character. There is a pool, a guest lounge, a working vineyard, and organic meals prepared from local produce. Stays typically centre on residential workshops — cooking, styling, creative writing — rather than standard hotel accommodation, though private stays are also possible.

The views from the property cover the Apennine ridge and the Apuan Alps, and the surrounding valley is quiet enough that the landscape is the main thing you are paying for. For the right type of visitor — someone who wants an immersive stay in an unusual building with a programme attached — it is one of the more distinctive properties in northern Tuscany. La Fortezza workshops and stays.

Agriturismo Montagna Verde

Montagna Verde is an agriturismo in a restored 11th-century watchtower in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, surrounded by the national park. The rooms combine stone walls and vaulted ceilings with practical modern fittings. The on-site restaurant is built around traditional Lunigiana cooking — recipes passed through generations, ingredients sourced from the property and surrounding farms. Testaroli, local charcuterie, and seasonal mushroom dishes are staples.

Guests can explore organic gardens, walk or cycle the national park trails directly from the property, or simply use it as a base for the wider region. Montagna Verde was featured on the Italian television programme 4 Ristoranti. For a full overview, read our guide to Agriturismo Montagna Verde.

What Else to Do in Lunigiana

The region around all three properties rewards exploration. Equi Terme, within easy reach of Casola and Montagna Verde, has prehistoric karst caves and a thermal spa. Pontremoli — the main town — has the Museum of the Statue-Stele, the best collection of prehistoric stone sculptures in the area, and is the starting point for truffle hunting and wine tasting experiences. The Via Francigena passes through the valley; walking sections of it is one of the less-crowded long-distance routes in Tuscany. For the full regional picture, read our complete guide to Lunigiana.