Top 5 Castles around Bagni Di Lucca

A beautiful hike. Some trails are a bit abandoned and lack signage, but following the trail is fine. From the top of the tower, there would be a beautiful view, but we missed it due to fog and a myriad of flying ants.

The ruins of the Tower, or Rocca, of Bargiglio stand on the top of the mountain of the same name at 866 meters above sea level at the gates of Garfagnana and the Media Valle del Serchio. Once you arrive at the Tower, it is clear why it has always been called the "Eye of Lucca": the view is panoramic at 360 degrees and offers a perfect view from the peaks of the Apuan Alps, with the Pania di Corfino clearly visible, to the numerous castles and fortresses of Garfagnana, such as the Castiglione Castle and the Mont'Alfonso Fortress. From here you can also dominate the entire Serchio Valley below, from the walls of Barga and Coreglia Antelminelli to Bagni di Lucca, up to the many towns in the Municipality of Pescaglia. And finally, in the distance to the south, the Lucca plain and then the Tyrrhenian coast. The origin of the fortification dates back to an unknown era, probably built by the Suffredinghi, one of the three potentates of Lombard origin who controlled the Serchio Valley who distinguished themselves for their tenacious resistance to the expansionism of the Municipality of Lucca, being bordered by the Este dominions of Garfagnana. It consisted of only one tower, used as an observation and control point of the vast territory, of the road that passed a little further down and of the small community that lived in the farmhouses surrounding the fortification and the ancient Hermitage of S. Bartolomeo.

It is believed that the rocky block on which Roccapelago stands was an ancient prehistoric castle. The first mention of a "Castrum Pelago" is found in a document dated 753. Roccapelago probably belonged to the Gualandelli family since the 12th century, and was subsequently a fiefdom of the Montegarullo family from 1240, whose warlike politics it suffered, especially under Obizzo da Montegarullo. In 1393, Obizzo having rebelled against the Este family, Roccapelago was besieged by the Lucchese allies of the house of Este, who took possession of the castle. In 1396 Obizzo managed to regain possession of it and Roccapelago remained with the Montegarullo family until 1408 when a powerful military contingent, under the command of Uguccione dei Contrari, managed to capture it and take it prisoner to Ferrara. In 1586, the new church of Roccapelago was built on the perimeter of the now abandoned castle. The square, massive shape, without arches, without columns and without vaults suggests that its room had been the hall of the Obizzo manor. The bell tower was built at the expense of the population in 1765, using a tower from the old castle. Other restoration works were carried out in 1925 due to damage from an earthquake. Four ancient rooms have recently been recovered which currently house the "In the footsteps of Obizzo da Montegarullo" and "The Mummies of Roccapelago" museums. From the site: http://www.roccapelago.it/

Cozzile was probably founded at the end of the 12th century around fortification works with lookout and extreme defense functions. Even at the beginning of the 14th century they hosted a castellan and a small garrison on behalf of the people of Lucca. Around the fortress a fortified town arose with a structure similar to that of Massa, organized in a "fishbone" pattern on both sides of the road that crossed it and which, exiting at the other end of the town, led towards the Apennines and towards Modena. The houses were grouped into two neighborhoods or "deeds" (Volata to the East, and Cessana to the West of the main road) with the square located to the north and the church to the south. In the city walls, of which important remains are still visible incorporated into the houses built above them, three doors opened: one to the east, corresponding to the entrance to the town of the medieval road from Massa (gate to Massa), one to the west , on the diametrically opposite side (Porta Vecchia)

Cozzile was probably founded at the end of the 12th century around fortification works with lookout and extreme defense functions. Even at the beginning of the 14th century they housed a castellan and a small garrison on behalf of the people of Lucca. Around the fortress a fortified town arose with a structure similar to that of Massa, organized in a "fishbone" pattern on both sides of the road that crossed it and which, exiting at the other end of the town, led towards the Apennines and towards Modena. The houses were grouped into two neighborhoods or "deeds" (Volata to the East, and Cessana to the West of the main road) with the square located to the north and the church to the south. In the city walls, of which important remains are still visible incorporated into the houses built above them, three doors opened: one to the east, corresponding to the entrance to the town of the medieval road from Massa (gate to Massa), one to the west , on the diametrically opposite side (Porta Vecchia)

Cozzile was probably founded at the end of the 12th century around fortification works with lookout and extreme defense functions. Even at the beginning of the 14th century they housed a castellan and a small garrison on behalf of the people of Lucca. Around the fortress a fortified town arose with a structure similar to that of Massa, organized in a "fishbone" pattern on both sides of the road that crossed it and which, exiting at the other end of the town, led towards the Apennines and towards Modena. The houses were grouped into two neighborhoods or "deeds" (Volata to the East, and Cessana to the West of the main road) with the square located to the north and the church to the south. In the city walls, of which important remains are still visible incorporated into the houses built above them, three doors opened: one to the east, corresponding to the entrance to the town of the medieval road from Massa (gate to Massa), one to the west , on the diametrically opposite side (Porta Vecchia)

Early medieval castle still inhabited today, which is preserved in excellent condition and offers a vast panorama towards the south over the Valdinievole and all of Tuscany

Beautiful views from the most important defence tower of the Lucca Republic