Top 10 Castles around Camaiore

A beautiful hike. Some trails are a bit abandoned and lack signage, but following the trail is fine. From the top of the tower, there would be a beautiful view, but we missed it due to fog and a myriad of flying ants.

It's a very beautiful castle but there are no shops so I recommend it as a short stop for a little climb

The ruins of the Tower, or Rocca, of Bargiglio stand on the top of the mountain of the same name at 866 meters above sea level at the gates of Garfagnana and the Media Valle del Serchio. Once you arrive at the Tower, it is clear why it has always been called the "Eye of Lucca": the view is panoramic at 360 degrees and offers a perfect view from the peaks of the Apuan Alps, with the Pania di Corfino clearly visible, to the numerous castles and fortresses of Garfagnana, such as the Castiglione Castle and the Mont'Alfonso Fortress. From here you can also dominate the entire Serchio Valley below, from the walls of Barga and Coreglia Antelminelli to Bagni di Lucca, up to the many towns in the Municipality of Pescaglia. And finally, in the distance to the south, the Lucca plain and then the Tyrrhenian coast. The origin of the fortification dates back to an unknown era, probably built by the Suffredinghi, one of the three potentates of Lombard origin who controlled the Serchio Valley who distinguished themselves for their tenacious resistance to the expansionism of the Municipality of Lucca, being bordered by the Este dominions of Garfagnana. It consisted of only one tower, used as an observation and control point of the vast territory, of the road that passed a little further down and of the small community that lived in the farmhouses surrounding the fortification and the ancient Hermitage of S. Bartolomeo.

The area hosts the ruins of an ancient castle, of Peralla, dating back to the XIII century. What remains of the castle today is only a circular tower and pieces of the walls, in the highest part of the village.

Nice looping road up to the castle. You can enter the castle for €3. Information is in Italian and English

If you want to go up to the castle you can go a little further on the main road before turning right and then looping your way up the hill to the castle gate entrance. You can also go inside when it's open (costs €3). Information signs and leaflets have both an Italian and English option. Really interesting history and well worth a visit

The Montecatino tower is located north of Lucca in the hamlet of Cappella, at the top of a hill about 483 meters above sea level. On the top of Montecatino there are the remains of the church of S. Maria Annunziata, with its almost intact bell tower (the bell is currently located in the parish church of S. Lorenzo della Cappella); furthermore around you can see the remains of the parish rooms and farmhouses. Thanks to the excavations carried out in the summer of 1986 it was discovered that starting from the V - III sec. B.C. the site was an Etruscan settlement. We do not know anything else until 1082 when reference is made, on the Lucchese Chapter, to the Montecativo castle located in that position, very useful strategically, as a signaling "tower" (from the top, in fact, you can see the entire Lucca plain).

The Rocca di San Paolino was a medieval historical-architectural complex of strategic military importance as a Pisan outpost in the struggles against Lucca. It is a fortification with an irregular polygon formwork and three towers with small squared limestone ashlars, the same one adopted for the construction in the medieval walls of Pisa. In the 15th century it was further fortified to withstand the impact of firearms, thanks to the work of the architect Giuliano da Sangallo. Even today the difference between the original part and the next one can be seen.When the town lost its importance as a strategic military bulwark, the fortress was unfortunately left to itself. On the entrance door you can still see the coats of arms of the Pisan and Florentine podestà, while the old towers remain that of Centino and that of Niccolai.