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Castles of Sarzana

Sarzana has to this day preserved the image of an original Medieval habitation, despite the later fortification works such as the wall, the donjons and, above all, the Cittadella, which heavily altered the urban structure giving it the aspect of a fortress city, dominated by the mighty fortress of Sarzanello.

The fortress inside the city, called the Cittadella or Firmafede fortress, was built in 1249 by the Pisans allied to Sarzana together with the wall encircling the city. In 1487 it was completely destroyed during the War of Serrezzana by the Florentines who then rebuilt it according to Lorenzo de' Medici’s plan.

The other castle, the fortress of Sarzanello, dominates all of the Magra river valley from the hill of the same name and was of fundamental strategic importance for the city’s history during the War of Serrezzana. The fortress dominates Sarzana and the Magra river valley. It is the oldest of the city’s defence structures in that its existence is recorded back as far as 1076.

In addition Sarzana is defended by a curtain wall marked by a series of donjons (called torrione in Italian) providing access to the centre: Torrione Testaforte, Torrione Stella, Torrione San Francesco and Torrione Genovese (or San Giorgio) on which Saint George who slew the dragon is still visible, a symbol and witness of the presence of the Genoese in the city.

To defend access to the city mighty walls were built which were strengthened and supplemented over the centuries. The city gates in the wall are Porta Romana and Porta Parma which still today are the most important entrances to the city of Sarzana.

The Cittadella (Firmafede Fortress)

Sarzanello Fortress

Walls and Donjons