Top 20 Castles around Aulla

The Torre del Castello Malaspina in the municipality of Villafranca in Lunigiana mainly refers to the imposing and famous cylindrical structure of the Castello Malaspina di Malgrate, although in the municipal capital there are also the ruins of the Castello di Malnido, the historic Dantesque residence of the Malaspina marquises, which was also originally equipped with a control tower. The best-preserved and famous fortification with its slender tower is located precisely in the hamlet of Malgrate. The cylindrical keep towers over the valley and is an unmistakable symbol of the Lunigiana landscape.

The entrance to Malgrate Castle in Villafranca in Lunigiana is preceded by an ancient moat crossed by a stone bridge that has replaced the old drawbridge, leading to a short staircase and a pointed arch gateway.

The Citadel, also known as the Sarzana Fortress or Firmafede Fortress, was the first fortification in Sarzana, built in the 13th century. It was owned by the lord Castruccio Castracani, who made numerous significant modifications to its defenses. After its destruction by Florence in 1487, it was rebuilt on the orders of Lorenzo de' Medici. In 1494, the Republic of Genoa, having regained possession of Sarzana, completed work on the Citadel. The fortress is used as a venue for cultural events and exhibitions and also houses the Fortress Museum, an interactive exhibit that traces the history of Sarzana and the Lunigiana region.

Aula is a fundamental hub of the Via Francigena, it was tormented by the bombings of the Second World War, causing the almost total destruction of its historic center, of which very few vestiges remain. It is located a few kilometers from the border with Liguria, on a narrow strip of land at the confluence of the Magra river and the Aulella stream, a decisive place for the civil and religious life of the entire area before the year 1000. Aulla in that period was already a small village and its importance was linked precisely to its central position along the Via Francigena, both as a pilgrimage road and as a commercial artery. The center of the town had an important role in defending the roads that led from the Lucca area and Liguria towards the Cisa Pass.

The Brunella Fortress owes its name to the hill on which it was built in the mid-16th century. The fort is a typical example of Renaissance military architecture, designed to defend against firearm attacks. It is an almost square construction with large polygonal struts. What is certain is that the complex represents the most powerful military work in Lunigiana and its strategic position allowed it, in the past, to control all the main routes in the area and the arrivals from the Apennine passes.

Medieval Castle of 1351. The fortification, which controlled the most important communication routes coming from the Apennines, Cisa and Garfagnana, developed in the 14th century (but its origins are probably older) and on its tower, 25 meters high and crowned by a corbeled patrol embossment, the flag of the Malaspina marquises flew until the 17th century. In addition to performing defensive functions, the castle became a noble residence in 1641, when the central body was transformed into a palace, incorporating the round tower. Despite this, the appearance of Malgrate is that of a classic medieval fortress: the main body is made up of the keep, located on the short side of the rectangular feudal palace and surrounded by walls, equipped with Guelph battlements, slopes and a patrol walkway that seems to date back to the 14th century.

Ruins of the Malnido Castle, with the square dedicated to Dante Alighieri, ancient guest of the Malaspina, and the remains of the church of San Nicolò, the medieval road leads to the parish church of San Giovanni

The Firmafede Fortress (originally called Cittadella) was built in 1249 thanks to the help of the Pisan allies of the city. In the 15th century the city became an important strategic point, Lorenzo the Magnificent decided to transform the village into a military stronghold of the Florentine lordship and to rebuild the fortress. In 1496 the fortress passed to the Banco di San Giorgio and from 1562 to the Republic of Genoa, remaining there until the end of the 18th century, a period in which it underwent several interventions. In the 19th century, with the annexation of the Republic to the Savoy kingdom and with the radical changes in defensive strategies, the fortress was used first as a police barracks and subsequently as a prison until the 1970s.