The Castello dell'Aquila, an imposing fortified structure dating back to the Late Middle Ages, overlooks the medieval village of Gragnola and the confluence of the Lucido and Aulella streams. Its origins remain shrouded in mystery, and its current appearance is the result of a meticulous ten-year restoration, completed in the early 2000s.
The castle features a quadrilateral keep and three corner towers, with a raised inner courtyard enclosed by walls adorned with Guelph battlements. Once belonging to the Marquises Malaspina dello Spino Fiorito, it is one of the largest castles in Lunigiana.
During restoration work in 2004, the skeleton of a 14th-century knight was discovered—struck down by a crossbow bolt still lodged between the cervical vertebrae. This medieval enigma, involving an unnamed knight, continues to intrigue and inspire research in the fields of anthropology and forensic medicine.
Currently, the castle is temporarily closed to the public.
