The Castle of Malgrate, located in the municipality of Villafranca, is an ancient fortress that dominates the valley of the river Bagnone with its characteristic round tower. Its history dates back to the 14th century, when the castle played a key role in controlling the roads coming from the Apennines, Cisa and Garfagnana.
The castle with its tower, 25 meters high and crowned by a round overhang with corbels, remained in possession of the Malaspina until the seventeenth century. Initially conceived as a defensive structure, the castle underwent a transformation in 1641 when the central body was converted into a palace, incorporating the round tower.
Despite its evolution into a stately residence, Malgrate retains the characteristic appearance of a medieval fortress. The main nucleus consists of the keep, positioned on the short side of the feudal palace with a rectangular plan, surrounded by walls with Guelph battlements, escarpments and a walkway that dates back to the fourteenth century.
