A new edition of La Terra dei 100 Castelli (The Land of 100 Castles), an initiative dedicated to the enhancement of the local fortified heritage, between Lunigiana and the Apuan Riviera, will take place in the province of Massa-Carrara from September 19-21, 2025. The project, promoted by theCastles Enhancement Institute and the Sigeric Community Cooperative, includes a weekend of extraordinary openings in numerous castles and historic homes in the area, with the intention of strengthening the cultural and tourist network built in recent years.
The event, organized in collaboration with municipalities in the province of Massa-Carrara and the Lunigiana and Riviera Apuana Tourist Area Communities, stems from the desire to offer an opportunity to discover the area through the widespread presence of castles, which are considered a unifying and identifying element of the entire area. Indeed, this is an area that stretches from upper Tuscany to the borders with Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, where the architectural testimonies of the past, particularly those related to the defense and control of the territory, represent a recognizable and still tangible heritage.
“An ancient people lived on this land,” declares Emanuele Bertocchi, president of the Castles Valorization Institute. “Air, water, earth and fire were the main elements of its life. Settled from the plains of the Apuan Coast and the first Apuan Alps, our territory was able to prove that it knew how to fight to defend its freedom.” The historical cultural architectural heritage, “the great mothers and warriors carved in sandstone, the marble memorials of the Resistance, still speak to us today of peace, love, attachment to the Earth.” A message supported with others by remains, temples and Pievi, buildings from glorious times such as those of the Bishop of Luni and noble and powerful families such as the Malaspina. These are credited with having erected over 100 fortifications here, leading the territory to have the largest concentration of Castles in Europe. They still characterize villages, reliefs and historic communication routes and paths, above all the Via Francigena. Organizing a dedicated weekend means offering a privileged view of the immense shared heritage. History."
“In these ten years of activity, the Sigeric Community Cooperative has increasingly expanded its tourist and educational offerings concerning the Lunigiana Castles,” says Cinzia Nicolini. "To date, we are responsible for the regular opening of two public castles and three private castles, as well as offering tour services and educational activities in many other castles and museums in Lunigiana. The network of castles is therefore a strategic tourism product for the entire province of Massa-Carrara. In this journey, which started a long way back with the Farfalle in cammino’s Churches, Castles and Palazzi Aperti (for 2025 outgoing) event, the Castles Enhancement Institute has always accompanied and supported us. We are pleased to travel this road together."
In recent years, participation in the initiative has grown, involving an increasing number of sites, both public and private. Medieval castles, fortified palaces and historic residences have been progressively made accessible thanks to the creation of a collaborative network of entities, institutions and private entities. The sharing of projects, goals and strategies has made it possible to transform fortified architectures into true places of culture. The 2025 edition aims to further consolidate this vision, with an updated format that also includes a new visual identity. A dedicated website and a brand new logo, both created by Marco Tonelli for Studio Arx, will accompany the communication of the initiative. Two social channels, Facebook and Instagram, will also be activated to expand the dissemination of information and to involve a wider audience, including those outside the province.
Preceding the opening days will be a press tour reserved for the media, designed to promote the event and attract the attention of journalists and operators in the cultural and tourism sector. The event will be part of the historic musical review MutaMenti, a traveling festival that for years has brought artists from the jazz and contemporary music scene to perform in symbolic places in the province of Massa-Carrara. The project La Terra dei 100 Castelli (The Land of 100 Castles ) was created with the ambition of becoming a regular fixture in the calendar of local initiatives, contributing to the promotion of the area in terms of culture and tourism. Castles, by their very nature, represent a thread capable of connecting different landscapes, from the hills of Lunigiana to the Apuan coastal strip, offering a coherent narrative of the region’s past and historical transformations.
Through an integrated and shared approach, the project aims to support the sustainable development of the area, enhancing existing resources and encouraging heritage-friendly patterns of use. The proposed visitor experience includes a multifaceted set of initiatives involving cultural operators, guides, local governments and communities. The creation of synergies has allowed over the years to strengthen awareness of the value of this heritage and the area’s ability to network.
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| Extraordinary openings of Massa Carrara's castles: a weekend dedicated to their discovery |
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