
Rocca di Coreglia Antelminelli
An ancient medieval fortress dominating the Serchio Valley
The medieval hamlet of Coreglia Antelminelli is located in the Serchio Valley, surrounded by stone defense walls and its historic gates. The Rocca di Coreglia dominates the village, strategically placed to watch over the entire territory. The fortress was built higher than the "Apennine buttress," shaped by the Ania and Segone streams, allowing the castle to communicate with the Brancoli and Motrone fortresses through a system of light signals that could be seen as far as Lucca. In the past, the walls surrounding the castle were very thick and the building was used to house men and various means of transportation.
The fortress has changed over the centuries, its walls lowered and the sentinel walkways and parapets eliminated. In the 1800s, the holding tower was demolished so its stones could be used to pave the town's streets. But despite these changes, the building still has the same, imposing appearance of a medieval fortress. Today, the complex and the area around it are private property, now used as a farm and residence.