An 8th-century document attests to the existence, even in the Lombard era, of Aghinulfo, an unknown character who seems to have been a functionary at the Lombard court in Lucca. The castle was built, albeit fitfully, in the late Middle Ages by the Lucchese government, which considered Montignoso a valuable place for control of the sea. The most recent military occupation of the castle was in 1945, when it was held by a Nazi garrison, who made a few architectural changes and turned it into one of the main strongholds along the Gothic Line.

There are many elements to the complex: a wide ring of walls, flanked by towers, encloses two spaces, both large but of different dimensions. The higher area contains the weapons-training ground and a patrol route, supported by numerous arches; a keep built on a large octagonal building (probably the oldest in the whole complex), which, via a walled courtyard, is joined to a circular tower, the bastion of San Paolino. The octagonal building, which is thought to date from the 1100s, seems to have had both military and residential functions over the centuries.

It seems that a fortification on the hill already existed in the early Middle Ages, built by the Marquises of Massa, but the first written documentation relating to the castle dates back to the 12th century.
In the 15th century Massa became the property of the Malaspina di Fosdinovo marquises, who transformed the castle into a residence by implementing important architectural interventions which also included modernization of the defensive systems and ended in the 17th century.
The architectural complex at the end of the 19th century was definitively transformed into a prison and maintained this function until 1946.

Today, after the restoration, the Castle is divided into three distinct parts: the mighty walls, complete with bulwarks, walkways and rooms for the artillery, the residence and the keep. The residential part is very interesting, which develops around an elegant internal courtyard and has remarkable frescoes both in the internal rooms and on the facades.
Information and Entrances

OPENING HOURS until 14 September: from Tuesday to Sunday h. 17: 30/22: 30
Tickets: FULL € 5.50, REDUCED € 3.50 for young people aged 18 to 25, FREE up to 17 years