The Fortress of Mont'Alfonso

Perched atop a hill, it dominates the center of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and is one of the most impressive architectural complexes in the area. The Fortress of Mont'Alfonso, built on a pre-existing medieval hamlet, offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding landscapes: from the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines to the Panie group to the Apuan Alps.

It was built between 1579 and 1586 at the behest of Alfonso II d'Este and was the last defensive stronghold of the Duchy of Ferrara to guard the border with Lucca. Inside the walls (1150 meters long and equipped with 7 bastions) were dwellings: of these, 16th-century remains such as the captain's house and the troops' quarters still remain.

Having become the property of the Principality of Lucca and Piombino in the Napoleonic era, the fortress passed into the hands, in the last century, of the Italian-Scottish Bechelli family, who made it their summer residence by converting one of the buildings into an Art Nouveau villa.

Since 1980 the complex has been owned by the Province of Lucca and today, after major renovations, is home to offices of the Provincial Administration and the Apuan Alps Regional Park, as well as exhibitions and cultural events. It can also be reached on foot by following the Ariosto Trail, a ring trail dedicated to the famous poet and connecting Castelnuovo di Garfagnana to the fortress.