Sant'Antonio Bonfire

The Sant'Antonio Bonfire in Mulazzo

In the heart of Lunigiana, at the northern tip of Tuscany, the medieval village of Mulazzo (Massa-Carrara province) renews one of the area's most fascinating winter rituals every year: the Sant'Antonio Bonfire. A large wood pyre is set ablaze in the historic center, illuminating the stone houses and the ancient Malaspina Arches, which provide a dramatic backdrop for an evening of celebration, warmth, and shared tradition.

A tradition between faith and agrarian rites

The bonfire is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals and rural communities, whose feast day falls on January 17th. However, the roots of the festival reach back even further: fire served as a purification ritual, believed to drive away winter and ensure future harvests. Burning the old season to wish for a prosperous year is a gesture that has been repeated in Mulazzo for generations, a legacy of the farming and chestnut-growing culture of the Apennines.

The Malaspina Arches as a backdrop

The pyre is set up in the village square, next to the Arches of Mulazzo, the remains of an ancient aqueduct linked to the history of the Malaspina family, the feudal lords of Lunigiana. Mulazzo is also the village that, according to tradition, hosted Dante Alighieri during his exile, and it is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy: attending the bonfire means experiencing the festival in a setting of rare historical charm.

The evening and the gastronomy

The festivities begin in the late afternoon: from early evening, food stalls run by local associations offer sausage sandwiches, crêpes, and mulled wine, perfect for warming up while waiting for the lighting. When night falls, the fire-tenders ignite the stack, and the flames rise toward the Lunigiana sky, to the wonder of both adults and children.

Part of the Lunigiana Bonfire Challenge

The Mulazzo bonfire is part of the broader calendar of propitiatory fires in Lunigiana, which culminates in Pontremoli with the historic Bonfire Challenge between the San Nicolò and San Geminiano districts, and involves other towns such as Filattiera and Villafranca. A heritage of winter festivals that keeps ancient customs alive, balancing the sacred and the folkloric.

Why attend

• A traditional pyre lit in the historic center of a medieval village
• The unique scenery of the Malaspina Arches
• Typical Lunigiana gastronomy under the winter stars
• An authentic, free, and family-friendly event