Accommodation inside Cinque Terre is limited, expensive, and books out months ahead in summer. The villages of the Lunigiana region — 20 to 30 minutes from the coast by motorway — offer a quieter and cheaper alternative base, with direct access to the A15 and good train connections to La Spezia. Here are four options worth knowing about.
1. Ca’ del Moro Resort, Pontremoli
Ca’ del Moro is a resort in Pontremoli with an outdoor pool, wellness centre, and a restaurant serving traditional Lunigiana cooking — testaroli, lardo di Colonnata, and local charcuterie. Rooms have countryside views and the property is well positioned for day trips into Cinque Terre via the Pontremoli motorway exit, particularly convenient for the northern villages of Monterosso and Vernazza. Pontremoli itself has a medieval centre, a Malaspina castle, and is the southernmost town before the Apennine pass into Emilia-Romagna.
2. La Fortezza, Lunigiana
La Fortezza is a restored medieval fortress owned by stylist and author Annette Joseph, used as a retreat and workshop centre in the hills above the Lunigiana valley. The property has views across the Apennines and Apuan Alps, a working vineyard, and runs residential stays combining cooking classes, creative workshops, and wine. It is not a standard hotel — stays are typically programme-based. For the right type of traveller it is one of the more distinctive properties in northern Tuscany. La Fortezza workshops and stays.
3. Il Convento di Casola, near Aulla
A restored historic convent near Aulla, used for seminars, private retreats, and small group stays. Organic meals, simple and comfortable rooms, and grounds that are quiet by design. The Aulla motorway exit gives access to the southern Cinque Terre villages — Riomaggiore and Manarola — in under 30 minutes. Good option for group travel or anyone wanting somewhere peaceful to use as a base rather than accommodation that is itself a destination. Il Convento di Casola.
4. Hotel Demy, Aulla
The most straightforward option: a traditional town hotel in Aulla with standard rooms, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a restaurant. Close to Aulla train station, which has regional connections toward La Spezia and the Cinque Terre corridor. No frills, but reliable and well located for travellers who want easy access to both the coast and the Lunigiana interior without committing to a resort or retreat property.
Why Lunigiana Works as a Base
Lunigiana sits at the point where Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna meet — geographically central and historically overlooked. The A15 motorway runs directly from Pontremoli and Aulla to La Spezia, where you can pick up the regional train into Cinque Terre (trains run every 30 minutes between the five villages). Accommodation here costs significantly less than inside the park, parking is not an issue, and the towns have their own food culture — testaroli pasta, Pontremoli’s lardo, and the Malaspina castle circuit — that makes the region worth exploring independently of the coast.
Visiting La Spezia or the Cinque Terre?
Escape the crowds with our
truffle hunt & gourmet truffle lunch & tasting in Lunigiana — a perfect shore excursion from La Spezia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lunigiana a good base for visiting Cinque Terre?
Yes, particularly if accommodation inside Cinque Terre is full or too expensive. Pontremoli and Aulla are both 20–30 minutes from La Spezia via the A15 motorway. From La Spezia, regional trains run every 30 minutes into Cinque Terre. Lunigiana is significantly cheaper for accommodation, has no parking restrictions, and has its own food culture and sights worth exploring.
How far is Pontremoli from Cinque Terre?
Approximately 40–50 minutes by car via the A15 motorway to La Spezia, then a short train or drive to the Cinque Terre villages. The Pontremoli motorway exit is most convenient for the northern villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza). Journey times vary depending on which village you are heading to.
How far is Aulla from Cinque Terre?
Aulla is around 30 minutes from La Spezia by car on the A15, making it the closer of the two Lunigiana bases. The Aulla exit gives the most direct access to the southern Cinque Terre villages — Riomaggiore and Manarola. Aulla also has a train station with regional connections toward La Spezia.
What is there to do in Lunigiana beyond day trips to Cinque Terre?
Lunigiana has a circuit of Malaspina castles — a medieval ruling family that controlled the region for centuries and left fortified towers and residences across the valley. Pontremoli has a compact medieval centre and a small museum with prehistoric stone statues (statue-stele) unique to the area. The local food — testaroli pasta, lardo di Colonnata, local charcuterie — is distinct from the rest of Tuscany and worth eating in situ. Truffle hunting is also available in the forested hills around Pontremoli.
Can you visit Cinque Terre without a car from Lunigiana?
Yes. From Aulla train station, regional trains run to La Spezia, where you connect to the Cinque Terre line (every 30 minutes through all five villages). The journey from Aulla to Riomaggiore takes around 45–50 minutes by train with one change at La Spezia. No car is needed once you are on the Cinque Terre line, and private vehicles cannot enter the villages in any case.
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