» Plan of the
Castle

A
fortified complex of Medieval origin, Trassilico was situated in a strategical
(strategic) position. The stronghold was already in a state of advanced
decay in the late fifteenth century. In 1524 Ludovico Ariosto, the Estesis'
Commissary in Garfagnana, denounced the bad condition of the garrison
in a letter to the Duke of Este. Early in the seventeenth century fights
concerning the definition of the borderline with the Republic of Lucca
made remodeling and strengthening works necessary. Therefore the walls
were rebuilt and made safer.
The fortress totally declined in the eighteenth century, when the administrative
offices moved into the village along with the civil servants' houses.

The
Rocca of Trassilico occupies the highest point of the village of the same
name. It is located dominating the middle of the valley of the river Serchio,
on a hill 732 meters above sea level. The village that surrounds the fortress
is crossed by narrow paths passing under the keep of the fortification.
The wealth of buildings testifies to the importance of the site during
the dominance of the Estensis Family. Trassilico was in fact the chief
town of a vicariate a place of great importance as seat of governor, and
of the office of chief magistrate (Podestà).

The
importance of the fortress was underlined by the fact that it was in control
of such a vast territory that included the districts Fabbriche, Gragliana,
Vallico di Sopra and Vallico di Sotto.
Moreover it was rich in many respects: mineral deposits, used for supplying
components for armaments, numerous water courses, that furnished the
power-energy source to various workshops, mostly for milling flour from
chestnuts.
The complex, with its mighty rounded keep, was the object of a major
programme of restoration and is nowadays open for visits.