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LU07 Mont'Alfonso Fortress

The Mont'Alfonso Fortress is one of the most impressive architectural monuments of the Serchio Valley, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters. It is located about 1-2 minutes by car from the centre of Castelnuovo Garfagnana and offers beautiful views of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines slopes and the Pania mountain system, in the Apuan Alps.
The Mont'Alfonso Fortress is one of the most impressive architectural monuments of the Serchio Valley, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters. It is located about 1-2 minutes by car from the centre of Castelnuovo Garfagnana and offers beautiful views of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines slopes and the Pania mountain system, in the Apuan Alps. The Fortress was built by Alfonso II d'Este between 1579 and 1586, and designed by Marc'Antonio Pasi, to defend Castelnuovo Garfagnana and the Este territory from the Republic of Lucca. The inhabitans of the area, the “garfagnini”, contributed to its construction with the large sum of 30,000 crowns. The complex - with a wall of 1150 meters, seven bastions and two doors – included several dwellings. Remaining examples of the sixteenth century constructions are: the captain's house, the troops dwellings, the stone well and the casemate bastion. According to a popular legend, the fortress is connected via an underground tunnel to the Rocca Ariostesca in Castelnuovo, a secret passage that, in case of a siege of the town, would allow citizens to take refuge within the walls. The center of Castelnuovo can be reached through the Path of Ariosto, which, over the years, has been renamed as “lovers walk”. After hosting prisons in the 16th century, in the XX century it became the summer residence of the Italian-Scottish family, Bechelli, who transformed one of the buildings into a modern Art Nouveau building and ran the stronghold as a farm. Today the Mont’Alfonso Fortress, completely restored, is an authentic gateway to the beauties of the Garfagnana, a symbol of history and stories.
Castelnuovo Di Garfagnana
Accessibilité :
  • Adapted or dedicated sanitary facilities
  • Dedicated parking
  • Indoor/outdoor walkway signage
  • Products for visits adapted to people with disabilities
  • Stairlifts / Lifts
GRITACCESS:
Contact :
  • Via per Cerretoli

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