Monserrato Valley
Monserrato valley starts north of Barbarossa beach. The evergreen pine woods and the shape of the mountains and the water, reminded the Spaniards on garrison duty in Fort San Giacomo, of another valley - the one in Montserrat, Spain, where there is a monumental and famous sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Mary.The Sanctuary
The hallmark in Monserrato valley is without a doubt its Sanctuary. It is the most evocative place of worship on the island. It was built in 1606 upon request of the first Spanish governor in Longone (Porto Azzurro), Don José Pons Y León. Today, it is a pilgrimage destination, right in the middle of the valley, surrounded by steep and rocky mountains infusing visitors with a sense of ecstasy and wonder.“Nonno Pino”
Situated in Monserrato valley, a few steps from the Casale, the famous Monserrato pine tree has been living here for 400 to 500 years and a few years ago it was nicknamed "Nonno Pino" ("The Grandpa Pine") by Porto Azzurro primary school children.This beautiful tree is a stone pine that the Italian National Forestry Body has classified as an Italian monumental tree. The dimensions of the pine make it one of the biggest in Tuscany, with a 20 metre height, 4.5 metre tree girth and a 30 metre tree crown.
