The old Via Aurelia passes through the valley and this must have been one of the busiest routes to the south hundreds of years ago.

To find the unspoiled heart of the area head follow the Aurelia towards the Passo del Bracco and Carrodano. From here a further road takes the visitor to Carro.

The Val di Magra occupies the south east tip of the province. This is where mountainous Liguria gives way to the flat coastal strip of Tuscany before Massa Carrara.

The zone is full of social history and includes the Roman ampitheater at Luni and the solid, anvil shaped fortress at Sarzana. If you have time for one stop only, then Sarzana has to be it.

As well as the fortress, the Chiesa dei Cappuccini, Palazzo Picedi and the artisan shops are worth a visit.

The Val di Vara also possesses a unique patrimony. Called 'Valle dei Borghi Rotondi' it is dotted with a series of medieval towns where the streets and squares were built with no straight lines and surrounded a castle or church in the center.

Either for physical or divine protection they can be seen at Varese Ligure, Brugnato, Pignone, Corvara, Zignago, Calice al Cornoviglio, Chiusola, Suvero, Follo, Bolano and Beverin.