Forte dei Marmi can be the perfect starting point to visit all the secret gems of Versilia.

For example, Forte dei Marmi is only 25 kilometers far from Colonnata, the mountain village where the Lardo di Colonnata IGP is produced: a unique and delicious cold cut renowned all around the world.

Even if I spend the most of my time working at the hotel, I come from Massa and I often go to Colonnata to find its precious treasure. The road that leads to Colonnata winds along the famous marble quarries of the Apuan Alps, a fascinating, wide and moon-white landscape.

The town of Colonnata in fact, is surrounded by the quarry of Gioia Calagio, one of the largest of the Apuan Alps.

According to the historians, the Lombards started breeding pigs in these areas, because they offered plenty of chestnuts to nurture them. Pig meat was produced in order to give quarrymen something to eat during the work shifts.

The marble and the lardo di Colonnata have an indissoluble relationship: traditionally, in order to produce lardo, you have to season the meat in the local basins made of Carrara marble. A unique alchemy, made possible only in this special place. In fact, Colonnata producers still use local marble basins - which have very particular temperatures and humidity – the only ones where you can leave for 6-10 months the layers of pork accompanied by the aromas that give it the scent and the unmistakable taste: pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, sage, rosemary

The village itself is a real delight to visit, with its small doors, columns, stone walls, areas paved in marble, the bell tower with the clock and the church with the seventeenth-century crucifix made by one of Michelangelo's students.

In one of the many small “norcinerie” in the area you can buy and taste the lardo di Colonnata, accompanied by warm bread and a good glass of red wine. It's worth it, because only here you will discover the true taste of Colonnata lard, so light and transparent that melts at the first bite.

If you don’t manage to go to Colonnata, you can stop at the hotel restaurant, and I will be happy to make you taste such a great product of our territory.

HOW TO REACH COLONNATA: we suggest you reach the place by car; if you do not have one, the receptionists will help you to rent it and we will give you all the directions.

WHEN: At the end of August, during the Lardo di Colonnata Festival, an excellent opportunity to visit the village and try its specialties.