Castello di Malgrate, Medieval fortress in Villafranca in Lunigiana, Italy

Castello di Malgrate is a fortified structure on a hillside above Villafranca in Lunigiana with a round tower and rectangular central keep. The castle overlooks the Bagnone valley with preserved defensive walls and embankments.

The fortress was built in the 14th century as a military outpost controlling trade routes between the Apennines and Cisa range. It served as a key watch point for routes extending toward Garfagnana and beyond.

The name Malgrate comes from the Malaspina family, who held the fief for two and a half centuries after Bernabò Malaspina received the district. The Ariberti of Cremona, lords from 1641, governed with justice and liberality and turned the fortress into a bourgeois residence. Giuseppe Malaspina had the village gate built in 1566, joined to the eastern side of the castle walls.

Visits are best planned for weekends when the castle opens to the public. Comfortable footwear is important since access involves climbing a hillside and navigating through rooms and walls.

In 1641, the central keep transformed from a purely military structure into a noble residence while the outer defenses remained unchanged. This dual role shows how the castle shifted from a battlefield stronghold to a family home for the ruling family.