Discovering Montalfonso Fortress: A Hidden Gem in Tuscany

in Worldmappin4 days ago (edited)

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Hello, dear friends,

Continuing the story from my last post, on my way back I came across a fortress—a beautiful military structure known as the Montalfonso Fortress, located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany. I already knew this place because I would sometimes come here to have my lunch break.

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This is actually a fort, a fortification built between 1579 and 1586 to defend the territory of Lucca. However, you can't really enter the fortress itself; you can only visit the top. I believe they occasionally organize guided tours that go inside.

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The fortress is truly massive. From the informational signs nearby, I read that it covers about 60,000 square meters. But for me, the most beautiful aspect is the view you get from here—overlooking the slopes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

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You can walk around the entire perimeter of the fortress, though sadly, as you might notice from the overgrown weeds, it isn't well-maintained as a tourist attraction, which is such a pity. According to the same informational signs, within the walls, there are historical buildings like the Captain's House, the soldiers’ quarters, and other structures used for the fort's military functions.

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One sign also mentions a legend claiming that the fortress is connected via an underground tunnel to the Rocca Ariostesca in Castelnuovo, which I showed you in my previous post. Who knows if this underground passage really exists?

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I took a stroll there and enjoyed the stunning panorama from that spot. It’s always a shame that places like this are no longer given the attention they deserve.

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I hope the photos I shared were interesting, and I encourage you to visit this place. In my small way, I hope to help promote and spread awareness about such locations.

Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post. I wish you all a wonderful day!

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Che bel posto e che bel sole qui a Pistoia diluvia 🥲

si ero stata li un pò di settimane fa

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