Castello Aghinolfi
Medieval castle of early medieval origin on the hills above Montignoso, with an octagonal keep, a parade ground and a museum display that tells the story of the complex's phases.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Castello Aghinolfi stands on a hill above Montignoso, along the route of the Via Francigena, and its name recalls a Lombard origin. Early medieval sources already mention it and, in the centuries that followed, the castle was contested between Lucca, Pisa, the bishops of Luni, the Malaspina family and the marquises of Massa. The oldest element is the octagonal keep, which recent studies date to between the mid-11th and mid-12th century.
In the 15th century the complex underwent major changes, including the bastion of San Paolino in the parade ground, and in 1585 the upper part of the keep was demolished. Around the mid-18th century the castle fell into ruin, and an attempt at recovery by Carlo Lodovico di Borbone came to nothing. During the Second World War it was occupied by a German garrison and included in the Gothic Line system.
The municipality of Montignoso began restoration in 1998, and the castle was returned to the community on 1 April 2001. After further work it was reopened to the public and is now managed by the Istituto Valorizzazione Castelli. In the octagonal tower there is a museum display with a glass floor showing the stratigraphy of the ancient floors and the finds from the excavations, together with a multimedia installation with virtual reconstructions of the castle's phases.
Highlights
- Octagonal keep from the 11th and 12th centuries
- Glass floor over the ancient stratigraphy and excavation finds
- Multimedia installation with reconstructions of the castle's phases
- Parade ground with the bastion of San Paolino
- Views of the sea and the mountains
Permanent exhibition
- Allestimento museale nel mastio – In the octagonal tower a glass floor shows the stratigraphy of the ancient floors and the finds, while a multimedia installation presents the castle's phases with virtual reconstructions.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Comune di Montignoso (gestione: Istituto Valorizzazione Castelli)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3children aged 7 to 15 |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 6 · Reduced admission for children aged 7 to 15 |
| Combined ticket (4 admissions, one of them free) | €15 |
| Citizen's ticket (named, valid for the whole opening period, for residents of the province of Massa-Carrara) | €10To be paid only once |
The guided tour is included in the ticket price.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The castle can be reached by car up to the entrance; some rooms are difficult to access for people with mobility impairments.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
It is reached from the scenic road linking Montignoso to Strettoia; near the top a dirt road leads directly to the castle.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The guided tour is included in the ticket. |
