Discover Nicola: Borgo, Church and Panorama

Nicola lies at a panoramic elevation overlooking the Magra Valley. From here, the panorama extends across a wide stretch of sea; on the horizon, the Tuscan and Ligurian seas meet. When choosing a holiday apartment in Nicola, the view over the Magra Valley and the far-reaching sea panorama are therefore the main considerations.

A Borgo of Stone and Paths

The historic borgo of Nicola is accessible on foot and features cobblestones as well as some uphill sections. The historic paving is particularly illustrative: uneven cobblestones are arranged in horizontal sections, with a central row of dressed stones running between them. In the Piazzetta dell'Acacia, for example, sections of the fortification walls are still visible. The houses are arranged like a defensive fortress, with hidden gardens lying between them.

Scala Matta and Paths to Nicola

The so-called Scala Matta leads up through the Gironi over irregular steps to the highest point of the village, where the church square is located. The Ponte di Isola–Nicola–Palazzetti circular route follows a mule track to the Borgo di Nicola and reaches Nicola's piazza, which offers panoramic views of the sea and the densely populated coast. From Serravalle, the Borgo di Nicola can be reached via a road through the woods. For planning purposes, these routes can be viewed as different focal points: the ascent through the village, the mule track, and the connection from Serravalle.

Church, Fortifications and Maestà

The Church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo in Nicola has a Baroque façade dating from 1759. It also has a pipe organ built in 1842 by the Nicomede Agati company of Pistoia. The original chapel of this church is said to have been built by the Byzantines in the 6th or 7th century as a thanksgiving for the conquest of Luni. Nicola is home to marble devotional reliefs known as maestà; they generally date from the 17th and 19th centuries. For many centuries, the parishioners of Nicola made an annual procession to the Church of San Marco in Luni on the occasion of the Rogazioni di San Marco.

Holiday Apartment in Nicola and the Character of the Place

When choosing a holiday apartment in Nicola, you can use your preferred mix of local history, walking experiences and panoramic views as your benchmark. This allows you to tailor the decision to the interests of your travel group: cultural details can be given different weight than a daily plan involving ascents and connecting routes. Nicola offers an unusually concrete basis for this, as its historic townscape, religious heritage and expansive landscape each provide their own distinctive highlights.

You can find more places to consider in Volastra, L'ago, Maissana, Cembrano, Calice Al Cornoviglio, Tivegna, Portovenere and Riomaggiore.

For the overarching travel overview: La Spezia.