The Malaspina Castle of Fosdinovo is an imposing structure dating back to the 11th century. Originally a fortified nucleus, the castle was later expanded with turrets and defensive towers over the following centuries. In 1340, the castle passed from the Nobles of Fosdinovo to Spinetta Malaspina, becoming the political and military center of the Malaspina family's fiefs.
Over time, the castle’s interior was transformed into a refined noble residence, decorated with beautiful frescoed rooms. Today, it is owned by the Marchesi Torrigiani Malaspina and houses a museum, a cultural center dedicated to contemporary arts, a residence for artists and writers, and a small bed and breakfast.
The museum inside the Castle of Fosdinovo offers guided tours through its main rooms, including halls frescoed by Gaetano Bianchi, the room said to have hosted Dante Alighieri, and a collection featuring coins, ceramics, weapons, and instruments of torture. One of the most intriguing stops is the room where, according to legend, the ghost of the young Bianca Maria Aloisia resides. Legend has it that she was walled up alive for defying her noble parents by falling in love with a stable boy.
