There are places in Tuscany that tell ancient stories and that, for much of the year, remain away from the most well-known tourist routes. They are castles, fortresses, towers, parish churches and historic residences scattered across the Massa-Carrara area, protagonists from September 17 to 20, 2026 of a new edition of “The Land of 100 Castles.” Four days of extraordinary openings, guided visits and experiences to discover a heritage that numbers nearly one hundred castles and includes structures normally inaccessible to the public or open only on rare occasions.
The initiative is promoted by the Institute for the Valorization of Castles with the support of the Chamber of Commerce of Tuscany North-West and increasingly involves municipalities, private owners, Pro Loco, associations, tour operators and cultural entities. The support of Sigeric, a cooperative specialized in the tourism valorization of the Lunigiana and the province, also contributes to the construction of itineraries, visits and experiences capable of linking the historic heritage with the local landscape.
From the Malaspina Castles to the Fortresses: the Places to Discover
The program allows visitors to choose among numerous openings distributed across the various municipalities of the province. Among the highlights is the Castello del Piagnaro in Pontremoli, open from September 17 to 20 from 10:00 to 18:30, with the last entrance at 17:30. On September 20, at 21:30, there will also be a concert by MutaMenti Liliana Sommariva.
Also from September 17 to 20 the Castello Malaspina in Fosdinovo will open, with visits at several times during the day (11:00, 12:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 and on Sunday also at 18:00) and booking is recommended, while in Massa you will be able to enter the Villa della Rinchiostra, where guided tours are offered every hour (Thursday from 9:00 to 13:00; Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 15:00 to 19:00) and access to the temporary exhibition “Astratto organico” located on the villa’s first floor.
On September 17 the Castello di Comano will be open with a guided tour at 18:00, an apericena at 19:00 and music at 21:30.
On September 18 planned visits include the Pieve di Codiponte (at 16:00), the Castello di Pontebosio (at 17:30), with an included aperitif, and the Castello di Avenza along the Via Francigena (at 15:15).
On September 19 the program features guided visits to the Castello di Bagnone (at 11:00), the Castiglione del Terziere (at 9:30 and 11:00), the Castello di Moneta (at 15:00), the Castello di Pallerone (at 15:00), the Castello Malaspina della Verrucola (at 11:00) and the Pieve di Montedivalli (at 17:00).
The Castello di Lusuolo, the Fortezza della Brunella and the Torre di Mulazzo will be open on both September 19 and 20 with different times.
On September 20 it will be possible to visit the
For many visits, booking will be mandatory, so it is advisable to consult the official website of the Istituto Valorizzazione Castelli for precise information.
Not Only Castles: Cycling, Secret Villages and Music
The Land of 100 Castles expands the story of the territory also through proposals dedicated to active tourism. Among these are Filattiera Segreta, a guided tour scheduled for September 18, and two itineraries “Pedala e gusta”: the first through the Spino Secco lands, between Mulazzo and Tresana, and the second along the Cycle Path of the Castles, between Filattiera, Bagnone and Villafranca in Lunigiana. Both involve cycling routes paired with the discovery of the territory and its traditions.
For information and bookings, write to [email protected].
To complete the program there are also musical events, with concerts hosted in some of the historic sites involved in the initiative.
In addition to the MutaMenti event on September 20 at Castello del Piagnaro in Pontremoli, music will also be heard at Castello di Comano on September 17 with MutaMenti Nascente Trio and at Castello Malaspina di Monti on September 18 with MutaMenti Max De Aloe.
The full schedule of times can be found on the event’s official site.
