Discovering Montalfonso Fortress: A Hidden Gem in Tuscany

Hello, dear friends,

Continuing the story from my last post, on my way back I came across a fortress—a beautiful military structure known as the Montalfonso Fortress, located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany. I already knew this place because I would sometimes come here to have my lunch break.

This is actually a fort, a fortification built between 1579 and 1586 to defend the territory of Lucca. However, you can't really enter the fortress itself; you can only visit the top. I believe they occasionally organize guided tours that go inside.

The fortress is truly massive. From the informational signs nearby, I read that it covers about 60,000 square meters. But for me, the most beautiful aspect is the view you get from here—overlooking the slopes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

You can walk around the entire perimeter of the fortress, though sadly, as you might notice from the overgrown weeds, it isn't well-maintained as a tourist attraction, which is such a pity. According to the same informational signs, within the walls, there are historical buildings like the Captain's House, the soldiers’ quarters, and other structures used for the fort's military functions.

One sign also mentions a legend claiming that the fortress is connected via an underground tunnel to the Rocca Ariostesca in Castelnuovo, which I showed you in my previous post. Who knows if this underground passage really exists?

I took a stroll there and enjoyed the stunning panorama from that spot. It’s always a shame that places like this are no longer given the attention they deserve.

I hope the photos I shared were interesting, and I encourage you to visit this place. In my small way, I hope to help promote and spread awareness about such locations.

Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post. I wish you all a wonderful day!