Castle of Villa di Tresana
Outpost of the Malaspinian marquisate from Brugnato to Lunigiana
The Castle and the small village of Villa di Tresana surround the church of San Siro. Here too, a small shelter could be found by passing pilgrims and travelers in need of refreshment on Via Francigena. The central part of the hamlet is characterized by the church of San Siro, in Baroque style, located near the cemetery and a small cluster of houses. Continuing in the direction of Castle, you can admire a parallelpiped fourteenth-century fortification in excellent condition. The Castle is now private, not open to the public but visible from the outside.
Where is the Castle of Villa di Tresana
The ancient village and the locality where the medieval castle was built are located a short distance from the Borgo di Tresana, in the municipality of the same name.
Once you have passed the village of Barbarasco, continue on the road to Tresana. After about 3km you will find on the left the sign indicating “Villa”, turn and follow the road until you reach the town. The Castle is located at the top of the village.
Background
The Castle of Villa di Tresana was linked to Villafranca in 1266, which was already part of the vast Malaspinian marquisate that went from Brugnato to Castevoli and from Lusuolo to Podenzana . The marquisate ran along the western side of the Magra river, parallel to the Via Francigena at the bottom of the valley. To defend the territory, the Malaspina marquises built numerous fortresses and castles, which are still present today.
Nearby you can find
Il Castello di Tresana, il Borgo di Tresana.
