It is certain: going around our beautiful country we realize that we have nothing to envy to the more renowned Chateaux of the Loire or to the British noble castles (maybe t have hey a better marketing strategy?)

Among the countless, Malaspina castle in Massa is one of the most undervalued.
Massa Carrara is better known for its precious marble of the Alpi Apuane or for its beaches and maybe these attractions obscure other “small” treasures.
So a suggestion for the tourists who crowd those beaches in summer: leave the seaside for a day and visit the castle, so you will enrich your spirit (and also the castle).

A bit of history:
The records demonstrate that the top part of the building dates back to the end of 11th century; up to the 12th century it was controlled by the Obertenghi although disputed. During the Renaissance it was enlarged by Giacomo Malaspina and his descendants.
Structures enabling the crossfire were built in the 15th century due to the coming of the firearms.
Starting from 1442 the Malaspina marquis began to convert the building from a fortress in to a large elegant residence.
The last changes took place in 17th century with the battlements still visible over the main entrance.
The castle is one of the largest fortresses in Tuscany and it can be considered an open air museum of the military architecture.

After years of repairs (still undergoing) the castle reopened to public

A little black mark:
Unfortunately it seems that the older renovations have been too much invasive and that, at the present time too, the building looks unkempt even if something is improving.

For more info:
wikipedia: rocca Malaspina
www.comune.massa.ms.it/castello