Castle of Monti, Medieval castle in Licciana Nardi, Italy.

The Castle of Monti is a medieval fortress on the right bank of the Taverone torrent, in the hamlet of Monti, Licciana Nardi. Its irregular rectangular plan has a massive square keep at the northwest corner, with stone corbels that once supported a projecting defensive apparatus, and circular towers of different sizes at the corners of the enclosure. The keep houses the entrance gate, where arrow slits and fittings for a drawbridge are still visible, overlooked by a guard post. The walls retain their Ghibelline merlons, modified to support the roof.

The castle emerged in the 12th century as a defensive post during conflicts between rival powers in northern Italy. It remained important to regional control and was regularly maintained and reinforced to keep functioning as a strategic stronghold.

The name Monti does not refer to mountains but to a medieval term for broad pasture zones. Inside, a stone fireplace remains in one hall, while the library and armoury were damaged by break-ins and thefts. The Venelia I stele, owned by Niccolò Malaspina, was kept for decades in one of the rooms before being deposited with the Museo delle statue stele lunigianesi.

The walk up to the castle follows marked paths from Licciana Nardi, though some sections are steep and require steady footing. Plan for good hiking boots and bring water, especially on warm days, since shade is limited along the route.

From the hilltop, you can see multiple valleys at once, revealing why this location was chosen as a watch station. This commanding view made it possible to monitor activity across several zones simultaneously, which was crucial for controlling passage through the region.