Photo: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Castle
- Style
- Medieval architecture
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 44°01′55″ N, 10°08′47″ E
- Address
- via del Forte, 15
History and description
The Malaspina Castle is located in Massa, Italy. It crowns the top of a rocky hill and dominates the wide underlying plain and part of the Tyrrhenian coast. From the 17th century the main purpose of the castle was military and it served as a prison until 1946. The castle was subsequently restored and reopened to the public.
History
The first record of a castle here dates back to 1164. In 1269 because of political discords with local inhabitants it was leveled to the ground by the army of the nearby city of Lucca. The castle became the seat of the Malaspina family, marquises of Massa. It was visited by Dante Alighieri, who supposedly envisioned the descending circles of Hell, that inspired the corresponding part of his Divine Comedy. According to legend, Dante saw the great funnel-shaped cave lying below, surrounded by a series of ledges with the slopes converging to the stream.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Malaspina Castle».
Photos
Getting there
Massa CentroTrain, nearest
1.2 km as the crow flies
Malaspina Castlevia del Forte, 15
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore castles in Tuscany
Frequently asked questions
Where is Malaspina Castle?
Malaspina Castle is in Massa, in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany), Italy. Address: via del Forte, 15. GPS coordinates: 44.03197, 10.14646.
What else is there to see near Malaspina Castle?
Nearby you’ll find: Villa Massoni (400 m away), Grotta del Nettuno (600 m away), Palazzo Ducale (Massa) (600 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Massa-panorama rocca Malaspina — Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benvenuti al castello Malaspina — Cristina Maioglio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello Malaspina 2017 — Pepemanuele, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello Malaspina al tramonto — Pepemanuele, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello Malaspina by night — Walter Sgadò, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello Malaspina di Massa, Italia (01) — DV, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Massa - Castello Malaspina - 2023-09-10 12-09-44 003 — Sgado walter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Massa - Castello Malaspina - 2025-09-08 16-10-50 001 — Sgado walter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Massa - Castello Malaspina - 2025-09-09 09-29-32 001 — Cristina Maioglio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences