Lunigiana is a land in the valley of the Magra river, and takes its name from the Luni colony founded by the Romans in 177 BC, a transition zone between Northern Italy and the sea, crossed by several people.
This land preserves many historical evidences, being its castles the main legacy. Some are not in good condition others can be visited. They are the symbol of an era of medieval splendor that created villages and strongholds thanks to the powerful families that administered it, among which the most famous undoubtedly is that of Malaspina.
The position of castles is not only dependent on political and strategic reasons, but also on religious ones, since they were built near the Via Francigena, abbeys, Romanesque churches and parishes.
A leap into larger cities as Massa and Carrara, or into smaller towns will let you discover the precious pearls of Lunigiana.
One of the most ancient examples of this legacy is the Castle of Malaspina di Lusuolo. Built during the high middle age to defend the town and important roads, the castle dominates the site of Chiesaccia, where a ford remained active until the first years of the 20th century. Practically nothing is left of the original castle, as it was destroyed in the Fifteenth century.
The current building is a Seventeenth-century reconstruction and is organized around a trapezoidal courtyard with central well. Several environments developed in different periods overlook the courtyard.
The restoration works have been completed after several years, and the site will host the Museum of Emigrating Tuscan People. The museum will keep the memories of those who have left the Tuscan region in search of new opportunities. Photographs, letters and testimonies are organized on two levels: a physical site (with areas dedicated to exhibitions and collections, archives, a library, and a multimedia room for discussions and meetings) and a virtual site, which will have its heart in the database and website through which visitors will be able to consult the information remotely.
For more information, the museum contact is:
Phone: +39 0187 850559, email: museoemigrazione@libero.it, website: www.istitutovalorizzazionecastelli.it
The map to get to the castle:
View Lusuolo – Malaspina Castle and Tuscan Migration Museum in a larger map
Users that read this article also found the following interesting:
- Malaspina di Fosdinovo Castle
- Lunigiana Castles in Tuscany – Malaspina di Terrarossa
- Lunigiana Castle Trail
- Castiglione del Terziere Castle
- Brunella Castle
