Castello di Gorfigliano - Antica Repubblica di Lucca

Italy, Italy

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Castello di Gorfigliano, also known as the Ancient Republic of Lucca site, is a historic hilltop fortress in the village of Gorfigliano in northern Tuscany’s Garfagnana region.

The original settlement grew around a Lombard-era castle, which occupied a strategic position overlooking the surrounding valleys and what is now Lake Gramolazzo. Over the centuries, the fortress was transformed and partially incorporated into the Church of Saints Justus and Clement, known locally as the “Chiesa Vecchia.”

Today, remnants of the original castle survive in the defensive walls and the base of the old tower, while archaeological excavations have confirmed the site's medieval origins. The complex now includes the restored church, an adjacent museum dedicated to the identity and history of the Upper Garfagnana region, and an old cemetery.