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27-522: Literally translated, Pontremoli means "Trembling Bridge" (from ponte "bridge" and tremare "to tremble"), as the commune was named after a prominent bridge across the Magra . Pontremoli is in the upper valley of the Magra, 40 kilometres (25 mi) northeast of La Spezia by rail and 90 kilometres (56 mi) south-southwest of Parma . Pontremoli is believed to have been first settled around 1000 BC. It

54-408: A "near cousin to pasta", and as a "great round pancake-like bread no more than a quarter inch thick". This book also states that when it is baked to a crisp texture, it can be consumed in the style of a bread, whereas when baked less, it may have a spongy and soft texture, like a pasta. Cooking methods vary in different areas of Italy, and some of these methods are traditional in nature. Testaroli

81-408: A creamy filling between wafers), "spongata" (a Christmas cake containing chocolate , honey and hazelnuts , among other ingredients), "torta d'erbe" a pie filled with a mixture which may include bietole (Swiss chard), eggs, ricotta cheese, potato, rice and parmigiano cheese wrapped in a very thin pastry; and testaroli , a flat baked pasta, often served with pesto . Many have suggested that testaroli

108-466: A one-course meal, topped with grated cheese and olive oil. In Massa and Carrara, it was sometimes accompanied with stracchino cheese or charcuterie . Testaroli remains a very popular dish in Pontremoli , a small town in the province of Massa-Carrara, where it is served at virtually every restaurant in the town, during both mornings and evenings. Testaroli is also a common and specialty dish in

135-409: A two-stage cooking process. In the typical first stage, and sometimes only stage of cooking, the batter is poured and cooked on a hot, flat surface in the style of a pancake or crêpe . In this process, testaroli is traditionally cooked on a testo , which may be prepared for use by being heated over hot coals. A skillet is another cooking device that can be used to cook the batter. The pasta

162-581: Is "a direct descendant of the porridges of the Neolithic age that were poured over hot stones to cook". It is a native dish of the southern Liguria and northern Tuscany regions of Italy. According to an article published by The Wall Street Journal , it is "the earliest recorded pasta". In the Italian province of Massa-Carrara , located within the Tuscany region, it was a peasant food consumed as

189-565: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Liguria location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Italy is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Testaroli Testaroli , sometimes referred to as testarolo , is a type of thin spongy pasta or bread in Italian cuisine that is prepared in circular sheets using water, flour and salt, which

216-508: Is a 62-kilometre (39 mi) long river of Northern Italy, which runs through Pontremoli , Filattiera , Villafranca in Lunigiana and Aulla in the province of Massa-Carrara ( Tuscany ); Santo Stefano di Magra , Vezzano Ligure , Arcola , Sarzana and Ameglia in the province of La Spezia ( Liguria ). In Roman times, it was known as the Macra and marked the eastern boundary of

243-611: Is a notable sportsman to come from the area. Currently, Italian singer Zucchero owns a house in the commune. Ex-professional Queens Park Rangers player Mario Lusardi traces his roots from a small comune in the hills above Pontremoli, named Bratto, where he currently spends his holidays in the picturesque surroundings. American actress Meryl Streep attended her son's wedding at the Castello del Piagnaro in June 2019, and dined at Osteria Oca Bianca. To reach Pontremoli by car, one can exit at

270-492: Is a similar dish, prepared using sliced pasta dough and a ragù sauce. Testaroli 's name is based upon the testo , a terracotta or cast iron cooking device with a hot, flat surface that testaroli is traditionally cooked on. Testaroli is an ancient pasta that originated from the Etruscan civilization , a civilization of ancient Italy . The book Rustico: Regional Italian Country Cooking states that testaroli

297-490: Is cooked on a hot flat surface, after which it may be consumed. It is traditionally cooked on a testo , a flat terracotta or cast iron cooking surface from which the food's name is derived. It is sometimes cooked further in boiling water and then served. Testaroli is sometimes referred to as a bread, and is sometimes referred to as a crêpe . It may be dressed with pesto sauce or other ingredients such as olive oil, pecorino , Parmesan , and garlic. Falsi testaroli al ragù

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324-460: Is sometimes served with pesto sauce, which is a common addition to it in the Liguria and Tuscany regions of Italy. Another dressing method includes the addition of olive oil, pecorino , Parmesan , garlic and basil. Significant amounts of sauce may absorb into testaroli . A very similar dish is falsi testaroli al ragù , which is prepared using sliced pasta dough and does not involve

351-467: Is then sliced into diamond or rectangular shapes. A common dish in the Lunigiana region and historical territory of Italy , it is an ancient pasta originating from the Etruscan civilization of Italy. Testaroli has been described as "the earliest recorded pasta". It is also a native dish of the southern Liguria and northern Tuscany regions of Italy. Testaroli is prepared from a batter that

378-429: Is then sliced into triangles, and is sometimes directly served after this cooking process. In the second cooking stage that is sometimes performed, the pasta may be set aside to cool, and then cooked further in boiling water. Testaroli is sometimes referred to as a type of bread that is similar to focaccia , and is also sometimes referred to as a crêpe. The book The Italian Country Table refers to testaroli as

405-468: The Lunigiana region and historical territory of Italy, which is located between the Liguria and Tuscany regions. Testaroli is a type of pancake-like pasta prepared using water, wheat flour and salt that is sliced into triangular shapes. Chestnut flour is sometimes used in its preparation. The ingredients are mixed together and prepared as a batter , after which it is cooked, sometimes using

432-668: The Malaspina (in 1319) and the Antelminelli (in 1322). The conflict between the rival Guelfi and Ghibellini factions in the early fourteenth century resulted in the construction of the Great Bell Tower ( Il Campanone ) to separate the rival camps. During these Medieval times Pontremoli was often visited by pilgrims travelling from Canterbury (England) to Rome. In 1331 Pontremoli was sold by John I of Bohemia to Mastino II della Scala (Lord of Verona ). Pontremoli

459-723: The coronavirus lockdown then in force, and only two people were injured. Since 1995 an area of 4,320.8 hectares (10,677 acres) surrounding the Magra and Vara rivers is protected by a natural park of the regione Liguria , placed near the border with the Tuscany region. Due its biodiversity , the Regional Natural Park of Montemarcello -Magra-Vara is part of the Natura 2000 European network. [REDACTED] Media related to Magra River at Wikimedia Commons This Province of Massa-Carrara location article

486-737: The Duke of Modena , due to a dispute over trade routes. There are 30 frazioni (English civil parishes: neighborhoods or outlying villages legally part of the commune government) in Pontremoli. They are, ordered alphabetically : Arzelato, Arzengio, Baselica, Bassone, Braia, Bratto, Careola, Cargalla, Casa Corvi, Casalina, Cavezzana d'Antena, Cavezzana Gordana, Ceretoli, Cervara, Dozzano, Gravagna, Grondola, Groppodalosio, Guinadi, Mignegno, Montelungo, Navola, Oppilo, Pieve di Saliceto, Pracchiola San Cristoforo, Succisa, Teglia, Torrano, Traverde and Vignola. More modern attractions of Pontremoli include

513-524: The annual Premio Bancarella book festival, Medievalis (during August) which is a recollection of the arrival of Emperor Frederick II in Pontremoli in 1226, as well as Il Bar Moderno (a local café), which was in 1970 the winner of a "gold medal" in a Milanese "Ice Cream and Coffee" competition. There are also several mineral springs in the surrounding mountains and a local market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Local foods unique to Pontremoli include "amor" (a type of small cake, consisting of

540-442: The commune. The "Museo delle Statue Stele" (situated within the castle) contains a number of Bronze Age stone sculptures representing human figures found in Lunigiana. In 1802, Alessandro Malaspina took up residence within this area. Mathematician and poet Luigi Poletti , was born in Pontremoli; there is now a road within the city named in his honour. The goalkeeper for Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup , Enrico Albertosi ,

567-526: The exception of a period of French control from 1805 to 1814) until Italian unification in the 19th century. With the Leopoldine reforms, Pontremoli became an autonomous community (whilst still part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany) in 1777. In 1778, it officially became a City. The area was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1834. In November 1847 Pontremoli was occupied (along with Fivizzano ) by

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594-534: The new Dukes of Milan . Pontremoli was a French territory from 1508 until 1522 as several northern Italian areas were conquered. In 1526, Pontremoli was captured by Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire . Pontremoli was controlled by Spain until 1647, when it was bought by the Republic of Genoa . Three years later, Pontremoli was made part of the (Medici) Grand Duchy of Tuscany . It stayed as such (with

621-451: The territory of Liguria. The river's drainage basin occupies around 1,700 km (660 sq mi). Its most important tributary is the Vara which joins the Magra from the right within the commune of Santo Stefano di Magra . In April 2020 a 260 metre long road bridge across the Magra at Albiano Magra near Aulla collapsed. Very few vehicles were using the bridge at the time due to

648-584: The toll booth of the same name on the A15 motorway Parma-La Spezia or take the Cisa State Road 62. Public road transport is available via the CAT company, which connects Pontremoli to other cities and towns in the Lunigiana area, Massa , Carrara , and La Spezia . Pontremoli has a railway station with regular services to Pisa, La Spezia and Parma. Pontremoli is twinned with: Magra The Magra

675-451: Was actually the first type of pasta. According to an article published by The Wall Street Journal , testaroli is "the earliest recorded pasta." Among the churches in Pontremoli are: There are also several buildings concerned with the past noble families of Pontremoli. The major site is the Castello del Piagnaro , one of the largest castles of Lunigiana . Several palaces, such as those of the houses of Malaspina and Dosi, are located within

702-456: Was known in Roman times as Apua . The commune later became an independent municipality in 1226 thanks to Frederick II who chartered the free municipality, partly because of its mountainous terrain. This terrain in the valley of the Magra also made Pontremoli a target for numerous conquests from rival Italian and foreign lords. Pontremoli was controlled by various aristocratic families, including

729-616: Was later taken over by the Visconti of Milan in 1339. In 1404 the ownership of Pontremoli once again changed hands as it was seized by the Fieschi family of Genoa . However, by 1433 Pontremoli was again under the control of the Milanese. In 1495 Pontremoli was sacked by the troops of Charles VIII of France . During this time Pontremoli was a territory owned by the House of Sforza , who were

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