Fortezza della Verrucola, Medieval fortress in Verrucola, Fivizzano, Italy

Fortezza della Verrucola is a medieval fortress in the hamlet of Verrucola, Fivizzano. Its plan follows a medieval urban nucleus: a small rectangular building on the hilltop, perhaps the Bosi house-tower or the donjon the Lucchesi failed to take in 1300, and a large three-level quadrangular palace, probably Spinetta Malaspina's residence. A 14th-century rectangular tower stands on the east side, and two circuits of walls with walkways enclose the village and the summit.

The fortress was built in the early 12th century to control mountain passes across the Apennines and remained strategically important for regional powers. Over the centuries it changed hands multiple times as different rulers sought to maintain authority in the area.

This fortress served as a seat of power and military authority for generations of rulers in the region. Visitors can still sense this role through the layout of defensive spaces and the careful positioning on the hill.

The fortress stands on a hill above the village of Verrucola, reached on foot; the complex is entered from outside through two gates, the main one to the north flanked by a quadrangular tower. Inside, the patrol walkways and the inner enclosure around the tower-house and Spinetta's palace involve uneven ground and steps.

The renowned Italian sculptor Pietro Cascella purchased the fortress in 1977 and converted it into his private residence while maintaining much of the original medieval character. This transformation brought new life to what was essentially an abandoned structure.