Castle of Comano, Medieval castle in Comano, Tuscany, Italy.

Castle of Comano is a medieval fortress built on higher ground in a Tuscan valley, featuring thick stone walls and defensive structures typical of its era. The complex includes remains of residential buildings and fortifications arranged around a central area that served as the stronghold's heart.

The first written record dates to 884, when Marquis and Duke of Tuscany Adalbert I donated the castle to the Benedictine monastery of Aulla. In 937 King Hugh gave Comano, with 60 mansiones, as dowry to his wife Berta. In 1164 Frederick Barbarossa granted a quarter of the fief to Obizzo Malaspina, confirmed in 1220; a Dallo family fratricide in the early 14th century brought Spinetta Malaspina to annex it to the Marquisate of Verrucola, and by the mid-15th century it passed by inheritance to Florence.

The castle served as a seat of local noble families who controlled the valley for centuries, and their influence remains visible in how settlements below are arranged. Walking through the grounds, you can sense how power flowed from this elevated position down into the communities that depended on it.

The site is best reached on foot by following marked trails that wind through the Taverone valley, with clear signs guiding you along the way. Parking is available in the small village of Comano below, making it a manageable walk for most visitors.

Despite sitting high above the valley, the castle was never isolated because it stood at the junction of mountain passes connecting two provinces and controlling key trade routes below. This position allowed residents to monitor and influence movement through the region for centuries.