The city of Pontremoli is situated at the foot of the Passo della Cisa in the strategic position along the Francigena road. Cited as the 31st stop in the “itinery” of arch-bishop Sigerico, it was a free city between the XII and the XIII centuries.
Pontremoli was famously described as the “key and door to Tuscany”.
The old part of the city was developed between two rivers on a solitary road from Porta Parma to Porta Fiorentina. It was constructed to welcome merchants and pilgrims, and equipped with formidible defensive structures.
The Piagnaro Castle was built in X Century to monitor the street systems and to protect the citizens of Pontremoli and is probably the first and original structure of the town. The name “Piagnaro” derives from “piagne”, being the sandstone slabs used to tile the roofs. The complex achitecture of the Castle is the result of numerous reconstructions and enlargements and is characterized by the imposing tower (from the XV Century). The tower, situated at the highest point of the Castle, dominates the entire fortification. The tower is 16 metres high and was orginally only accessible from a small door situated at a height of c.10 metres from the lower part of the tower. It was reached by wood scafolding and was protected by a draw-bridge. In front of the tower emerges a imposing structure, which was used as barracks for the soldiers but is now converted into an hostel for pilgrims who travel along the Francigena road. Under these rooms there are still traces of the antique dungeons.
The remaining parts of the Castle are characterized by defensive structures from the VII and VIII centuries, and were equipped with fire arms and artiliery. There is a large courtyard encircled by strong walls and gutted with ajoining ramps and sentry boxes.
