Malaspina Castle in Terrarossa

In a flat position, in the middle basin of the Magra river, stands the Malaspina Castle of Terrarossa, built in the 16th century in a more central position than the ancient and previous fortification.

The original inhabited area was located on a nearby hill and had been part, since 1221, of the possessions of Obizzino Malaspina of the Spino Fiorito branch of Filattiera. In 1407 we witnessed a transfer of these possessions to the Marquises Malaspina of Villafranca and subsequently an occupation by the Genoese.

In 1581 the fiefdom became independent and it was then that the Marquis Fabrizio Malaspina built the Castle of Terrarossa, not so much for strictly military and defensive needs, but to satisfy his residential and economic needs: inside, in fact, the Marquis created large spaces for the breeding of silkworms.

Engaged in diplomatic and political activities at the Florentine court of the Medici, Fabrizio lost interest in his fiefdom, not even completing the construction of the palace, as demonstrated by the different architectural heights of the castle. Upon the death of his son, he ceded the castle to Cosimo II dei Medici, abandoning it definitively.

Terrarossa then remained under Florentine control until the advent of Napoleon.

From an architectural point of view, the Castle constitutes one of the largest Malaspina residences : it has a quadrangular plan and is built in a modern style with four bastions, two of which are covered with terraces and two covered with roofs. The castle is accessed via a sandstone arch which leads into a central courtyard from which vaulted halls and apartments branch off.

The Castle today houses a room for events and conferences, a local information point and the Albino Fontana Natural Library.

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