The castles of Lunigiana

Lunigiana is a historical region of Tuscany rich in castles that have sprung up

in medieval times.

Lunigiana is a very ancient region that takes its name from the well-known city of Luni

and an important Roman city dedicated to the moon.

This area was heavily inhabited in medieval times due to its proximity to the

Magra river exploited in daily work, today we will propose you a small itinerary

of the most beautiful castles of Lunigiana!

Malaspina Castle in Massa – Lunigiana Castles

The Malaspina Castle in Massa is our first stop, overlooking the city from above

of Massa with its imposing structure.

The Massa area began to expand in the late Middle Ages after the decline of the Roman city

di Luni to have a greater line of defense where the noble family found residence

of the Malaspina.

The castle is divided into three main parts: the fourteenth-century keep, the palace residence of the

Marquises and the mighty walls of beaten walls.

from the outside you can see the large walls where the cannons for defense were

placed from attacks, stables and prisons.

The castle is a real open-air museum and has recently been reopened entirely to the public

after years of renovations.

Discover the timetables of the guided tours

Malaspina Castle of Fosdinovo

Another historic home of the Malaspina family, this castle is one of the most beautiful in all of Tuscany.

The architecture is typical medieval with four circular towers set in the large walls where the

watchers walked relentlessly to catch sight of approaching enemies.

The castle inside is even more spectacular with its countless rooms and two internal gardens,

this castle also has the basement where the prisoners were placed in some cells.

The castle has hosted many well-known faces such as Dante Alighieri who seems to have taken refuge

here during a part of his exile, in the divine comedy we find a eulogy to this castle.

But the thing that makes it one of the most beautiful castles in Lunigiana is absolutely the

mystery that surrounds it.

Legends

In the castle there is a very particular room, it is said that the Marchesa Cristina Pallavicini was

a very bad, greedy and lustful woman who had many lovers.

It is said that in his room he had a trapdoor full of blades designed that ended directly in the canals

drain of the castle, where it made the unfortunate lovers fall.

Another legend is that of poor Bianca Malaspina, Bianca was destined to be married to a gentleman

of his own social class, but Bianca fell madly in love with the stablemates of the palace, the family

did not agree with this crazy love and they tried in every way to push the two lovers away, right up

to arrive at an extreme choice: they arrested the stable boy and poor Bianca was walled up alive together

with a wild boar, a symbol of rebellion, and a dog, a symbol of fidelity to his love for the young groom.

Legend has it that Bianca never left the castle and into her old bedroom you can hear his breath.

Book your visit

Malaspina castle of monti – castles of Lunigiana

The castle dominates the Taverone valley to control the communication routes with the Apennines.

It then became the home of noble families in the area.

Unfortunately this castle has had a very complicated history, it has passed into the hands of several

properties that have not been able to maintain the beauty of the castle, in 1920 an earthquake almost

brought to ruin this wonderful castle, but it was instead its rebirth, from that day a great project

restoration has brought the castle back to its former glory.

Book a guided tour