La Rocca di Camporgiano

The Fortress of Camporgiano is the most explicit and best preserved example of Estense fortification. Majestic and fascinating with its towers and its walls, dominates the ancient medieval village of Camporgiano and the rock spur, with its imposing mass, stands out over the entire valley of Garfagnana.

The fortress was built for the first time around the year 1000 A.D. then refortified in 1300 by the Lucchesi and finally in the second half of 1400 by the Estensi. And under the Estense domain, which lasted for a long time until about 1859, this as well as having a very important defensive role was the seat of vicar and residence of the captain of justice. In the years 1522-1525 he hosted several times Ludovico Ariosto who, as General Commissioner of Este, he visited.

After the Unification of Italy a part of the Rocca was bought by the Guasparini family and then in 1920 the notary Eugenio Guasparini became the entire owner and transformed the property first used as a prison into a civilian home.

In 2020, work began on the regeneration of the complex to transform it today into a multi-building hotel-period residence.

We point out, the small museum, inside the main tower, set up thanks to the finds found during the excavation campaigns carried out by the local archaeological group.