Aghinolfi Castle – A Tuscan Seaside Paradise

Aghinolfi Castle is a beautiful Tuscan castle perched on a hilltop with stunning view all around the Lunigiana area and out across the Tyrrhenian coast. This position adds to the beauty and romance of the castle but has also made it an optimum strategic location which has made its history dramatic and complicated. It has also meant that the town in which it is located, Montignoso, has also had a much more colourful history than a town its size might normally have had. The town purchased the castle just over a decade ago and have restored it and opened it to the public as a perfect example of a Tuscan countryside palace. If you have a fondness for castles and beyond amazing locations, find a luxury villa in Montignoso and stop by!

The first mention of Aghinolfi Castle goes back to 753AD when a piece of land in the area was given by the Lombard king, Astolfo, to his brother-in-law, an abbot. Its name also seems to suggest Lombard origins of the castle itself. “Aghinolfi” is very close to that of Agilulfo, a 6th Century Lombard king descending from the Thuringhen. It certainly remained in the hands of the Lombards until 1376, when it was passed to the Republic of Lucca. It then became one of Lucca's most strategic military outposts. Looking out from its bastion to the view that stretches from Livorno up to the Ligurian coast of the Gulf of La Spezia, the importance of this outpost is immediately obvious.

However, it continuously changed hands and kingdoms fought for this valuable strategic asset. In fact, the last military occupation of the castle was rather recent and dates to 1945, when it was occupied by a Nazi garrison during WWII, becoming one of the strongholds of the Gothic Line.

The architectural complex is made up of various elements with sturdy walls with towers encircling two large spaces at different heights. The uppermost space is occupied by the parade round, with a rampart walk supported by numerous arches. The 12th century keep, used for both military and residential purposes, consists of a large building with an octagonal base joined to a circular tower by a wall.

Originally, the complex and lands of the castle were much larger but dwindled over the years. In the 16th century, malaria struck in the area, hugely affecting the population and in 1799 it was abandoned by the Lucchesi during the Giacobine invasion and the inhabitants began to steal the wood, stones and brick of the castle in the construction of their own homes. However, the town bought and saved the castle in 1998 when restoration began. In 2001 it was re-opened to the public and in 2008 an archaeological park was opened on site.

Stunning, rich in history and equipped to be a perfect tourist destination, it has to be among the top castles on the Tuscan Coast to visit!