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Inhabitants in 1991: 3.949
 The
municipal territory of Fosdinova extends for 48,99 square kilometres in
a hilly zone, in the low Lungiana. Originally a Lordly centre, it reached
its present day territorial extension in 1983 with the detachment
of the districts of Gragnola and Cortila, annexed to Fivizzano.
Raised as a castle in which had settled a Lucca Longobardo guild,
who had guessed the importance of the place of transit, in the XI and
XII centuries Fosdinova was always allied to the Bishops of Luni against
the Malaspina. Nevertheless it was just this great Lordly family,
with the decline of the Bishop’s power, who obtained possession
until the XIII century. In the successive decades Spinetta Malaspina
strengthened it to the point that it became, with the investiture
of Carlo IV, the political-military centre of the branch of the so called
Spino Fiorito. When in 1442, his exponents obtained the Duchy of Massa,
the castle passed to a secondary branch, and it developed a modest but
dignified court, defended by the fortress “well equipped and full
of arms”. The municipality’s history does not seem to have
seen remarkable disruptions until the XVIII century, when a phase of unrest
began, perhaps caused by the internal discord of the dominant dynasty,
perhaps for the aim of external powers such as the Grand Duchy of Toscana
and the Malaspina di Pallerone. The last Marquis of Fosdinovo was relieved
of his Podesta Office by the French in 1798 and with the Restoration
the land finished up with the Duchy of Modena. Administratively united
to Massa, Fosdinovo actively participated in the Risogimental events.
The municipality had to endure hard times during the last war in as much
as, other than the persecution by the Nazi troops, for its position it
was the object of numerous bombardments aimed at the breaching of the
“Gothic Line”.
Places to visit:
The Castle, construction of origins
preceding the acquisition by the Malaspina from 1300s. It was modified
around the XVI century to make it less military and more residential.
S. Remigio, parochial church which encloses the marble sepulchre
of Galeotto Malaspina. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |
Gallery: Massa Carrara area
