Ortonovo
It is the easternmost district in Liguria, on the border with Tuscany. The village of Ortonovo was born following the abandonment of the Roman colony of Luni by the inhabitants, because of the barbaric raids and the explosion of malaria epidemics.
Having rural origins, the country is located on a hilltop, like many Italian towns of the period, and during the Middle Ages and the following centuries it came under the control of many families, including the Malaspina and the Medici. Two monumental gates protect the entry of the town, and the urban structure, topped by two ancient towers, consists of concentric rings, with the outermost of them constituting the city walls. The ruins of Luni rise from the plain below the town, with the wonderful amphitheater which is almost intact.
Luni
It was one of the most beautiful and flourishing Roman colonies in northern Italy. Its splendor derived from the use of the white marble of Carrara discovered by the inhabitants and from the importance that the city had in the economy and in the strategic location. In fact Luni was the main port of embarkation of marble, but was also an important supplier of timber, oil, wine and wrought marble. It was also on the boundary beyond which the Roman armies could not proceed without the consent of the Senate. Over the centuries Luni became a bishopric, but in the ninth century the barbarian invasions caused its disappearance.