The territory of Villafranca in Lunigiana offers a captivating glimpse into rural life in this historic corner of Tuscany. Surrounded by chestnut groves, oak woods, vineyards, and cultivated fields, the village and its surrounding hamlets reflect a rich medieval heritage shaped by the passage of the Via Francigena.
The historic center of Villafranca, strategically positioned near a ford of the Magra River, is home to the evocative ruins of the Castle of Malnido, built by the Malaspina family in the 12th century. Medieval walls and other fortifications, along with the Church of San Giovanni, enhance the village’s timeless charm. The Ethnographic Museum of Lunigiana, located in a restored 14th-century mill, displays agricultural tools, artisanal implements, and objects of daily and religious life—offering an authentic view of the region’s cultural history.
Villafranca in Lunigiana is also defined by its surrounding hamlets: Filetto, a medieval village with a quadrilateral layout and round corner towers; Virgoletta, a picturesque village perched above the Bagnone stream; and Malgrate, one of the region’s oldest settlements, crowned by a majestic castle.
