Castelnuovo is positioned at the heart of the Garfagnana, and started as a small village but became the centre of commerce and later the main city in the province of Lucca during the 800s. It was an easy stop for merchant trade coming from Lucca, situated 40 km away, and its accessibility in the past has shaped it into the city it is today. The centre of the city is rather built-up, with many traditions as old as their medieval structures and tiny winding streets. One of which includes a market called “dei banchetti” which began as a vendor and trading market in the middle ages and is still hosted by the city every single Thursday. Furthermore, every first Sunday of the month their piazza hosts a large market with local merchants and vendors that sell the locally produced products mentioned above as well as many other artesional goods.
If you’re looking for a cultural experience, stop by the Teatro Alfeiri for a show. The city definitely benefited from its role as the centre of industry and by the 1800s the rich community had the resources to enjoy the finer things in life. When the city’s smaller and outdated theatre was replaced by the newer construction in 1860 it was celebrated as a powerful contribution to the cultural life in the area. The gallery is stunning and it remains to be the most important and beautiful theatre in the Sirchio Valley.