Aulla is a town in Lunigiana, in Tuscany’s province of Massa-Carrara, and a useful place to include in a visit to the area. Its main landmark is Fortezza della Brunella, a Renaissance fortification above the town; churches and the railway station add other points of interest to your plans.
- Region: Lunigiana, Tuscany
- Central location: Aulla town centre is about a 2-minute walk from a hotel in Aulla
- Historic landmark: Fortezza della Brunella overlooks Aulla and the meeting of two waterways
- Rail connection: Aulla Lunigiana station serves the town
Getting to know Aulla
Aulla is a town in Lunigiana, within the province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany. The Comune di Aulla identifies a tourist information point among its visitor services, alongside places of interest such as the fortress, the abbey and the church of San Tommaso Becket.
The town’s location by the Magra River and Aulella stream gives the fortress its prominent setting. Aulla Lunigiana station is another useful landmark when planning how to arrive or continue your journey; this guide to getting from Aulla Lunigiana station to the town covers that connection.
Walking around the town centre
Aulla’s town centre is a practical starting point for a visit: the railway station and several local sights are part of the town’s visitor picture. The town’s official visitor services include a tourist information point, which may help you orient yourself and plan what to see.
For a town-centre itinerary, you can combine a look around the central area with a visit to Chiesa di San Caprasio or a trip up to Fortezza della Brunella. The Comune also identifies Chiesa di San Tommaso Becket as a local place of interest.
Local sights to include
Fortezza della Brunella is Aulla’s defining historic landmark, set above the town at the meeting of the Magra River and Aulella stream. The Comune describes it as a Renaissance fortification. Its exact construction date and commissioning party are uncertain, but the earliest written reference dates to 1553, when the fortress was already operational.
Spanish troops captured the fortress on 24 December 1733 after a three-week siege and held it until 1737. The Italian State acquired it in 1977 and entrusted it to the Comune, which made it the home of the Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana. The fortress is at Viale Rimembranza, 4, and accessible parking is available there.
Chiesa di San Caprasio is another local sight to consider. This guide to what visitors should know about Chiesa di San Caprasio can help you plan that part of a visit.
The Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana is at the fortress. Check the Comune di Aulla’s official site before you go for current visiting arrangements.
Using Aulla as a starting point
Aulla Lunigiana station gives you a rail point of reference for arriving in or leaving town. The Comune groups mobility and transport among its municipal services, while local routes and timetables are best checked with the relevant transport operator.
You can read more about visiting Fortezza della Brunella when planning that stop.
Practical planning notes
The Comune’s visitor services include a tourist information point, and the fortress is at Viale Rimembranza, 4, 54011 Aulla. For transport routes, timetables and current fortress arrangements, check the relevant official sites before travelling.
The town’s other places of interest include Abbazia di San Caprasio and Chiesa di San Tommaso Becket.
FAQs
Where is Aulla?
Aulla is in Lunigiana, in the province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany.
What is Fortezza della Brunella?
It is a Renaissance fortification overlooking Aulla and the confluence of the Magra River and Aulella stream. It is also home to the Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana.
What other sights are identified in Aulla?
Abbazia di San Caprasio and Chiesa di San Tommaso Becket are among the town’s places of interest.