Castiglione del Terziere castle bares a noteworthy historical importance both for the antiquity of its origins and for its role over the centuries. The origins of the castle date back to the period going from the tardoantico to the high middle age, as typical architectural elements from the 6th to the 7th century show. Castiglione was anciently called “Castiglione dei Corbellari” from the name of a minor family to whom the Estensi family had given the region as a sub-feudal posession. The attribute “del Terziere” given to Castiglione in 1275 derives by it being among the third part of the domains given as feudal legacy to the Marquis of Malaspina Alberto Filattiera, pertaining to the branch of the Spino Fiorito.
After many dull medieval centuries spent out of the spotlight, from 1451 onwards the castle and the entire valley became the seat of a Florentine Capitanato of Justice. For over three hundred years the Florentine law in Lunigiana was administered in the castle of Castiglione del Terziere and Fivizzano. Through these two justice posts Florentine Humanism and law filtered and spread throughout the region.
The name of many great leaders are linked to the castle. One of them was Castruccio Castracani was a vicar of the empire and a Ghibelline leader. He fought for a long time against Spinetta Malaspina the Great. Another great name is that of Franceschino Malaspina, fief of Mulazzo, who hosted Dante Alighieri who interceded in the peace process with the Bishop of Luni. The list continues with Niccolò Piccinino, a captain of fortune at the service of Florence and with Francesco Sforza, leader and patron, almost always at war, at the service of his brother Alexander I.
The decline of the castle began in the second half of the Eighteenth century. After becoming a farmhouse, in 1969 a private investor bought the ruins and with powerful works of consolidation, renovation and restoration, until nowadays that the castle has found anew its ancient splendor.
The castle houses the Center for Humanities Niccolò V and the Public Chair of Philology and Vocal Polyphony, who intend to introduce Lunigiana in the European cultural landscape. The archive and library are of considerable importance, especially for the history of Lunigiana and Italian literature. After being restored to its historical and artistic grandeur, the castle of Castiglione del Terziere is today one of the most distinguished monuments of the Italian Humanism.
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