How to reach
Camporgiano rises in the high Garfagnana Valley. It can be reached following the motorway A11 Firenze Mare until the exit 'Lucca'. Now you have to drive on the State Road SS12 called 'Of Abetone and Brennero', then the SS435 'Of the Garfagnana' until the town of Castelnuovo. Here you'll find the indication for Camporgiano.
History
Camporgiano, in the past known by the name of Camporeggiano, counts traces of ancient settlements of the Roman age. Since the first years of the 11th century, the bishops of Luni and Lucca, the marquises Malaspina, and the Countess Matilde of Canossa have fought for the control of the zone.
At the time of Castruccio Castracani (Lord of Lucca, 1281–1328), the hegemony on this territory passed in the strong hands of his hometown in order to return the object of disputes at his death: first the Marquise Spinetta from Fivizzano, chief of a branch of the powerful Malaspina family, then the Florentine, who bought it in the year 1341, the Lucchesi in 1377, and again the Florentine, who, after the siege of Lucca, dominated the territory of Camporgiano until 1446. In this year the inhabitants chose to pass under the direct control of the marquises Este of Ferrara.
The fortress of Camporgiano dominates the town. It was constructed around 1300 and in the successive centuries many times enlarged and reconstructed. It has always been the center of the governmental commissioners of the several hegemonies that gained power in the town, however, it never was the main fortification of the area (the most important was the near by Verrucole Castle, you can see it in the photo on the mountain just beyond the Rocca).
It has the shape of an irregular square, equipped with two powerful cylindrical towers to the inner angles, revolts towards the main public square of the village, and bastions towards the external angles. All the perimeters of walls are strongly bastionated and equipped with machicoulis built on beautiful brackets in stone, still intact in more points. Even if our days are clear, the restoration was made with bricks in contrast with the original curtains. The only gate is still endowed with a breteche. The fortress is today private property, and in the inner ward there are no more traces of its original medieval structure. This charming historic residence, owned by the Guasparini family and now transformed into a charming hotel.
More info & notes
Ph: +39 3472270512
Email: info@laroccadicamporgiano.it
Web: laroccadicamporgiano.it
Address: Via della Rocca, 2, 55031 Camporgiano (LU)