Castello Malaspina
Medieval fortress on a hill above Massa, formerly the residence of the Malaspina and later a prison, with a Renaissance courtyard, frescoed rooms and inscriptions left by inmates.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The castle, also known as the Rocca Malaspina, dominates the city of Massa from a rocky hill at the foot of the Apuan Alps. A fortification already stood on the site in the early Middle Ages, built by the marquises of Massa, while the first written record of the castle dates from the 12th century. In the 15th century Massa passed to the Malaspina marquises of Fosdinovo, who turned the fortress into a residence with important architectural works, continued until the 17th century, including the modernisation of its defences.
At the end of the 19th century the complex was turned into a prison, and it kept this function until 1946. Today it is regarded as a museum in its own right and is organised into three parts: the mighty curtain wall with bastions, walkways and rooms for artillery, the residence and the keep. The residential part is arranged around an elegant inner courtyard and has frescoes in the rooms and on the façades of the palazzi.
The rooms house some furnishings and a permanent display of three Renaissance marble busts found during the restoration; the inscriptions left by prisoners on windows and walls are particularly evocative. The castle is the subject of a restoration project funded by the PNRR (Italy's national recovery plan), at the end of which it is expected to become a seat of the Uffizi Diffusi (dispersed Uffizi network).
Highlights
- Renaissance courtyard with frescoes in the rooms and on the façades
- Three Renaissance marble busts found during the restoration
- Inscriptions left by prisoners on windows and walls
- Curtain wall with bastions and walkways
- Wide view over the coast and the plain
Permanent exhibition
- Il castello e i busti rinascimentali – Route through the Malaspina residence with frescoed rooms, furnishings, the permanent display of three Renaissance marble busts and the inscriptions left by prisoners.
- Founded
- 1968
- Operated by
- Comune di Massa; gestione Istituto per la Valorizzazione dei Castelli
- Visitors per year
- approx. 27,666
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Young people aged 18 to 25, tourists with the tourist-tax receipt issued by their accommodation, groups of more than 20 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for children under 18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and, if necessary, for their companion. |
Free admission also for tourist guides.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are offered at set times on open days; access to the castle during opening hours is free. |
