Inhabitants in 1991: 2.583
The
municipal territory of Filattiera extends for 48,97 square kilometres
in a mountainous and hilly zone on the left bank of the Magra, in high
Lunigiana. It originated as a Lordly centre, Filattiera reached
its present day territorial aspect in 1865 when the districts of Roccasigillina,
Cavallana, Lusignana and Gigliana were detached from the municipality
of Bangnone and aggregated to it.
The name of the capital, derived from the word Fulacterion,
with which the Byzantines indicated the fortified blockade posts in the
strategic points of great importance, clearly indicated its origins
in time and structural character. In 1077, with a privilege of Emperor
Arrigo IV, Filattiera, together with three other lands, was conceded to
Ugo and Folco d’Este. The Estensi in their turn ceded it
some years later to the Malaspina and in 1221, it became the principal
centre of the dominion of the Spino Fiorito branch. But with the successive
generations and the hereditary divisions, the territory became excessively
fragmented, politically weak and lacked a solid economic base. Finally
in 1549, the Marquis Bernabò Malaspina sold it to the Grand
Duke Cosimo I; from then Filattiera became part of the Fiorentini possessions
of Captaincy of Fivizzano and followed its fate.
Places to visit: The castle, belonging to the
Malaspina, today restored S. Giorgio, small Romanic church |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |