The etymology of the place name is not clear; supposedly it comes from the name of an artificial ditch, which was probably dug in ancient times. The local economy is mainly based on agriculture and the breeding of cattle. The olive-trees cultivated in Fosdinovo produce a very famous and valuable olive oil. The village rises on a hill alongside the lower valley of the Magra River. The foundation occurred during the Early Middle Ages, when a castle was built in the territory in order to control the important road joining the valley of the Magra River to the coast and thus also the trading activities. The village of Fosdinovo is surrounded by rich wood vegetation, which offers the opportunity to take long naturalistic walks.

The "indestructible" Fosdinovo castle

Once you enter the village it is possible to reach the ancient Medieval Castle, which at the beginning of the 14th century, hosted the famous poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) in a room where it is still possible to admire fine frescoes painted by Gaetano Bianchi. With its 12th century walls still intact, Fosdinovo Castle crowning a hill 550 meters high. The castle still dominates a great part of the Tyrrhenian coastline. During the Middle Age its position was ideal to maintain control of the Apennines roads to the sea and the mountain pass linking the coast to northern Italy.

From 1340 the castle of Fosdinovo was under the jurisdiction of the Malaspina's family, which bought the village and fortified it by building a ring of defensive walls equipped with cylindrical towers. The Malaspina's family dominated the territory of Fosdinovo up until the end of the 18th century, when occupied by Napoleonic troops, who stayed until 1814, when the Treaty of Vienna assigned the village to the Estensi family.

The magnificent inner courtyard of the castle was a 16th century addition.? Over the main gate, defended by a wooden watchcabin, is a coat of arms still visible, representing a dog holding a plant with thorns (known as "Spino") in its mouth to symbolize the strong alliance between the Malaspina and the Scaligeri.

The Parrocchiale di San Remigio and the Oratorio della Compagnia dei Bianchi

Other than the castle you can visit the Parrocchiale di San Remigio (Saint Remigio Parish) and the Oratorio della Compagnia dei Bianchi (Whites' Company Oratory).

Saint Remigio Parish

this building goes back to the 18th century. The church shows a Baroque style and has just an aisle, which is the result of the numerous restorations operated during the 16th century. It hosts the grave of Gaetano Malaspina and a marble-made statue dating back to the 16th century, portraying "Saint Remigio".

The Whites' Company Oratory

Close to the parish rises the Whites' Company Oratory that was rebuilt in the 16th century in its actual Baroque style. Inside the oratory, it is possible to admire along its side walls, some polychrome marble-made altars and close to the main altar it is possible to admire a fifteenth-century wooden statue portraying a "Virgin Mary".

Testarolo Feast

Among the numerous celebrations periodically taking place in Fosdinovo, as a reminder, we mention the "Testarolo Feast" is held yearly on the third Sunday of July. During the celebration it is possible to attend musical shows and to taste the "Testarolo", which is a local speciality (unfermented flavoured bread cut into little pieces).

Fosdinovo is 30 kilometres from Massa-Carrara, the capital city of the province to which the municipality belongs. Fosdinovo has a population of 4.339 inhabitants (Fosdinovesi) and a surface of 48 square kilometres thus showing a population density of 89 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises 500 metres above the sea level.

For more information visit

• Comune Fosdinovo

• Castelli Toscani Fosdinovo
Fosdinovo Castle