Apella is a village of the municipalityof Licciana Nardi, in the province of Massa-Carrara, in Lunigiana. Apella is located in the northern part of the municipal area, near the border with the Emilia-Romagna region. The hamlet is dominated by the nearby Tuscan-Emilian ridge where the complex of Mount Bragalata(1,835 m) and the peaks of Mount of the Man Dead (1,773 m) and Mount Bocco(1,791 m) stand out.
Apella is 660m above sea level, surrounded by the ancient chestnut woods of the Tuscan-Emilian National Apennine Park, in an area where, at one time, the undisputed masters of the territory were the Malaspina.
The village has medievalorigins, a typical rural mountain settlement, and is thought to date back to about 1300 BC, judging from the architecture. The name would have referred to the Silver Fir tree which in the past densely covered the foothills of the Apennines in the area.
Apella is overlooked by a watchtower built around 1000 AC. This was later expanded into a defensive fortress for military purposes in the thirteenth century and in 1700 turned into a bell-tower and a monastery. The beginnings of the nearby village of Taponecco can also be traced back to this time. After years of being abandoned and neglected, thanks to the initial idea and commitment of a prominent local family, in 1995 the monastery was restored to its former glory. The bell tower and monastery has now been converted into a restaurant showcasing local cuisine and accommodation owned and operated by a local family. Today it stands majestically overlooking 600 hectares of nature reserve, where visitors can enjoy excursions on horseback, hiking, and maybe pick seasonal fruits like wild strawberries, blueberries, chestnuts and mushrooms, either alone or with the help of expert guides.
In Apella a small museum can also be found to commemorate Biagio e Anacarsi Nardi, two heroes of the Risorgimento, the 19th century movement for Italian unification which resulted in the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Both Biagio Nardiand Anacarsi Nardiwere born in Apella. Today the house is a museum and visitor center of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park.
The museum also tells the stories of the many locals that left Apella for the the America’s and Australia after the Second World War, seeking opportunity and a better life in these new countries.
My dad was one of these people, together with some of his friends and relatives he went to Australia in the 1950s to start a new life. Which is where he met my mother and where my story began. Although I’m Australian born and bred I have very close ties to this village and its history. The house that my dad grew up in still stands today although long ago abandoned when my grandmother passed away. I have very fond memories of spending summers here in my early 20’s and I’m glad to see that not much has changed in the past two decades. Nowadays the town of Apella is experiencing a rebirth since many of the old houses and out buildings have been refurbished into charming accommodation with full amenities available for rent all year round. If you have the chance to spend some time here I highly recommend that you dine up at the tower and try the special pasta made with chestnut flour, it’s absolutely delicious.If you need to quench your thirst the water that runs from the tap at the fountain is some of the purest you’ll ever taste, be sure to fill up your water bottle here.
The cache is located in a grotto under my grandmothers house. The whole village has free Wifi so even though you may not have phone reception you should able to operate your GPS. If not you can follow these specific directions to get to the cache. My grandmothers house is No2 Via Apella and so you will need to get underneath it by walking past the timber railing and turning left to under the house. You will pass by two doors on your left, they used to be the toilet and bathroom, keep going then step to your left again and you will be in a small grotto, now the rest is up to you, happy hunting.
The cache contains a log book and swaps with plenty of room for TB and other items. Please ensure that you replace the cache exactly as you found it, thanks.