Forts & Fortifications

Over various centuries numerous fortifications were built in the Serchio Valley, an area of rugged mountains, forests, hills and plateaus useful for grazing, but also narrow gorges used as means of communication between distant lands.

Forts and castles came into being and were elaborated from the end of the 10th century until the Renaissance, at first on the initiative of local aristocracies in defence of their noble estates and later in order to serve, following the evolution of historical events, the states of Lucca, Florence and the House of Este.

Here you can learn about the main phases of castellation in the Serchio Valley via thematic itineraries in order to better understand various aspects of life within these fortified settlements in medieval times.