Bibola is an ancient village perched on the heights south of Aulla, controlling the Aulella valley. During the Byzantine age, at the beginning of the VII century, Bibola was mentioned in the itinerary of the Anonymous Ravennate, which listed a series of fortifications along the road from Luni to Lucca. These included Pulica, Bibola, Rubra (Terrarossa) and Corneda. It is believed that Bibola was one of the Byzantine kastrons built to defend the port of Luni. The Byzantine settlement probably occupied the area where now lie the remains of the castle Malaspina and its tower.
In the Middle Ages, Bibola was linked to the nearby castle of Burcione, now disappeared, both positioned to control a variant of the Via Francigena. This and other fortifications of the Magra Valley were communicated through smoke signals and mirrors from tower to tower, thus connecting Bibola to Filattiera, Grondola and the castles of Bastia, Monti, Lusuolo and Castiglione del Terziere.
