3 – MUSEUM OF THE LUNIGIANA STELE STATUE (ENG)

The Museum of the Lunigiana Stele Statues, located in the evocative setting of Piagnaro Castle, offers visitors an exciting journey into the discovery of these ancient stone-carved testimonies. In the Magra River valley, a truly unique artistic phenomenon emerged during late prehistory, one that continues to captivate archaeologists and travelers alike: the Stele Statues of Lunigiana. These are anthropomorphic sculptures, carved in low relief from sandstone and erected by the populations that inhabited this area between the Copper Age and the Iron Age (4th–1st millennium BC).

They represent either female figures, distinguished by the presence of breasts and jewelry, or male figures, often accompanied by an elaborate array of weapons, including daggers, axes, and, in more recent specimens, swords and javelins. These statues are frontally sculpted with essential, sharply defined features that make a lasting impression on the observer: fingers arranged parallel like the teeth of a comb, a deep clavicular line that separates the torso from the neck, a U-shaped “face,” and a crescent-shaped head—formerly described as having a “carabiniere’s hat” shape.

To date, 85 stele statues have been discovered, with finds spanning from the 19th century to the present day (the latest, unearthed in 2021, was found in Pontremoli). They have been recovered throughout the Magra River valley and its tributaries, an area between northern Tuscany and eastern Liguria, now referred to as Historic Lunigiana. These discoveries are often accidental, occurring during agricultural work, construction projects, or as part of reused materials in historical buildings. Over time, prehistoric stele statues were repurposed by local communities, transformed into lintels, windowsills, steps, and decorative elements for doorways, fountains, and walls.

The museum, inaugurated in 1975, is dedicated to Augusto Cesare Ambrosi, the first scholar to systematically collect Stele Statues in Lunigiana and to recognize the significance and potential of this phenomenon for the entire region. Between 2010 and 2015, the museum underwent a major expansion and complete renovation, led by architect Guido Canali. His design enhances the Stele Statues within the spaces of the castle, using a lighting arrangement that casts grazing light across the fortress walls, making these stone ancestors appear as eternal presences, suspended in darkness. Rather than being confined in display cases or hidden behind barriers, they stand freely, allowing visitors to admire them in the same space, creating an immersive and almost mystical experience.